ISLAMABAD  -  Three-day 'Interiors Pakistan Exhibition 2017' being organised by the Pakistan Furniture Council (PFC) to promote the country's interiors, furniture and accessories at home and abroad will begin in Lahore on December 15. 

Punjab Governor Rafiq Ahmad Rajwana will inaugurate the event at Expo Centre Lahore. Delegations from countries, including China, Italy, United Kingdom, Turkey, Hong Kong, Bulgaria, Denmark, Thailand, Bangkok and others are also expected to attend the mega event, besides members of the diplomatic corps, leading businessmen and stakeholders of the local furniture industry, a PFC press statement said on Sunday. Around 100 brands along with more than 70 leading local companies and interior designers will display their products. As per previous trend, nearly 250,000 to 300,000 people are likely to visit the exhibition. 

Visitors on the lookout for buying furniture will be able to enjoy special discount of up to 20 percent on items exhibited at the event. He said this exhibition will also provide the younger designers and architects to study the market trends and display their own work alongside that of more established professionals. 

PFC President Mian Kashif Ashfaq said the exhibition had now opened new vistas and venues to the amazing potential and caliber of Pakistani furniture, fixtures and respective furnishing goods that produce with high quality. He said the essence of this mega furniture exhibition was to promote the furniture and associated Pakistan made products at local and international level. 

He said the PFC was the only platform available to all small, medium and large furniture manufacturing companies in the country to promote their business and furniture related accessories. He said the PFC aimed at promoting industry-friendly legislation, improve supply chain, market Pakistani furniture locally as well as internationally, create skilled human resource at all levels, upgrade manufacturing technology, set and monitor quality standards for products sold by brands under its umbrella. 

He said they were pursuing the government to enhance trade and manufacturing that was not limited just to the furniture hubs of Chiniot, Gujrat, Peshawar and Gojra, instead they aimed to expand the reach, where skilled artisans and carpenters converted wood into art. 

He said the promotion of furniture sector would not only generate foreign exchange but also create potential jobs, and above all help the Pakistani furniture industry gain global recognition. Mian Kashif demanded the government to establish exclusive expo centres for furniture industry in Faisalabad, Gujranwala, Sialkot, Peshawar and Quetta. 

“Only 25 percent industrialists and traders of the country visit Karachi fairs and after the establishment of new expo centres with greater facilities more people will come to theses cities to increase their trade with foreigners and local investors," he hoped.