LAHORE: The Pakistan Carpet Manufacturers and Exporters Association (PCMEA) has started contacting foreigners to invite them to attend the 35th Pakistan International Carpet Exhibition, to be held in Lahore in October.

The PCMEA’s senior vice chairman Riaz Ahmed said in a statement issued on Sunday that the Trade Development Authority of Pakistan (TDAP) and commercial counsellors at Pakistani embassies abroad would also play an active role in motivating the foreign importers to attend the show.

He said the TDAP had assured the PCMEA of all-out cooperation to make the exhibition a success.

Mr Riaz said that visa facilities and other concessions would be provided to the participants.

“Information and other related material will be provided to the foreign carpet importers and procedural formalities in issuance of visas to the intending foreign participants will also be made easy,” he said.

He expressed hope that the authorities concerned would patronise the carpet industry for making the exhibition a success.

He said that the government and the private sector should join hands to regain the boom for the country’s carpet industry.

He demanded tax concessions and special incentives for the carpet industry to enable it to compete with its rivals in the long run.

Published in Dawn, April 24th, 2017