Indian Government Urged to Build Carpet City

New Delhi, India, April 9, 2007--Chairman of the Carpet Manufacturers & Exporters Association, Mian Javed-ur-Rehman has demanded the government fulfill its promise of setting up of a Carpet City on priority basis so that cleaning, washing factories can be shifted out of Lahore, according to the Business Recorder.

The newspaper reported that the carpet industry in China is enjoying lot of facilities from the government, which include rebate on export of carpets and free electricity. He was talking to carpet traders after returning from China on 10-day official visit here on Thursday.

He was of the view that the Chinese nation was very hard working and patriotic. He said that at the occasions of public agitation, there is no concept of violence and ransacking in China. He demanded 6-percent rebate on carpet exports and provision of free electricity to the carpet industry.

He said that handmade Pakistani carpets are very popular in the world but due to the lack of interest by the government, the exports of carpet have declined by 35 percent. The increase in labor wages at the time of budget announcement has also increased the problems of the industry.