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Declining carpet production
The export of carpets and rugs has already begun showing a declining trend. In July Feb 2006-07, carpets, rugs and mats worth $145.54 million were exported, as compared with July-Feb 2005-06, when their export stood at $171.23 million. These figures show a 15 percent decline in exports. Pakistan exported 2.29 million square metres of carpets, rugs and mats in July-Feb 2006-7, against 2.83 million square meters exported in July-Feb 2005-06, which shows an 18.83 percent decline.
Carpet weaving looms are usually set up in Attock, Quetta, NWFP and Karachi. Afghan refugees largely inhabited each of these areas and provided cheap labour to the carpet weaving industry. Afghan designs and carpet weaving skills gained a lot of appeal among Pakistani and foreign buyers in the recent past. The Pakistani carpet industry has suffered a severe blow due to the recent exodus of millions of Afghan refugees. A few years ago, in Attock there were 15 million carpets weaving looms. This number has experienced a sharp decline since Afghan repatriation started in 2002.
The suffering carpet industry in Pakistan will be unable to match fierce competition by neighboring India and Iran if the situation goes unchecked. Adequate arrangements should have been made to cater for the loss of labour. Pakistani labourers should have been trained and employed well in advance of the Afghan repatriation process. Pakistan’s fragile economic situation cannot afford another crisis right now.
The concerned authorities should take note of the critical situation and work towards restoration of the carpet industry to retain the precious foreign exchange earned through carpet exports. Otherwise, like the textile industry, our carpet industry will also be unable to meet growing world pressure. JAVERIA HUSSAIN Attock City
carpets, rugs and mats worth $145.54 million were exported, as compared with July-Feb 2005-06, when their export stood at $171.23 million. These figures show a 15 percent decline in exports. Pakistan exported 2.29 million square metres of carpets, rugs and mats in July-Feb 2006-7, against 2.83 million square meters exported in July-Feb 2005-06, which shows an 18.83 percent decline. 
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