- Home
- Business
- News
- Govt to enhance forest cover to meet domestic needs of furniture sector at local level
Govt To Enhance Forest Cover To Meet Domestic Needs Of Furniture Sector At Local Level
Sumaira FH Published June 15, 2018 | 02:48 PM
Pakistan Furniture Council (PFC) Friday demanded the government to enhance forest cover areas by planting trees to reduce volume of importing softwood in furniture sector which would help saving billions of rupees in the form of foreign exchange.
ISLAMABAD, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 15th Jun, 2018 ) :Pakistan Furniture Council (PFC) Friday demanded the government to enhance forest cover areas by planting trees to reduce volume of importing softwood in furniture sector which would help saving billions of rupees in the form of foreign exchange.
In his statement issued here today, PFC Chief Executive Mian Kashif Ashfaq said Pakistan is importing more than 75 percent of its total consumption of softwood which is used for door and window purpose, thanks to inefficiency and corruption of provincial departments, losing billions of rupees in the form of foreign exchange.
He said that only 25 percent need of the country is fulfilled from domestic production, as billions of rupees precious and high cost wood is being wasted just due to negligence and vested interest of the provincial forest departments. He said that wood products exports from Pakistan has been confined to wooden furniture, small amounts of stationery (registers, diaries, letters, etc.) and some shisham (Dalbergia sissoo) table and kitchen wear.
He said furniture is made by thousands of small-scale enterprises in Pakistan. Traditionally, furniture manufacture was considered under the village carpentry sub-sector. Now, however, new modern furniture factories have been established by the private sector in Gujarat, Jhang and Peshawar.
Nearly all wood used for furniture making is shisham (Dalbergia sissoo, 82 percent), with small quantities of deodar (Cedrus deodara), poplar (Populus deltoids), mulberry (Morus alba) and other species. The furniture makers themselves saw most wood. According to our data estimated urban consumption of wood for furniture at 5.9 m3 per 1000 population.In order to promote plantation at local level, he said the government should also start cash incentive programmes to forest communities for not cutting the trees which, he thinks, can result in efficient, cost effective and equitable conservation of forests as natural resources.
Mian Kashif said there is huge potential of investment opportunities in forestry sector in South Punjab and by promoting commercial forestry in the area, green jobs in rural areas will be created and logging pressure on existing forests will be reduced.He said in order to prevent cutting of the forests, alternative sources are encouraged to promote the use of energy and to inform people about the importance of the forestry.
He said that imported wood, even if it is brought from the US and Canada is cheaper by Rs50 to Rs100 despite import duties on it. He said that foreign wood is cheaper as they grow farmlands and cut it in a systematic way, which never caused deforestation. Lacking in technology, expertise, or even sufficient infrastructure, Pakistan's sawmills generate large amounts of wastage from its natural resources. This wastage is neither environmentally sustainable nor economically sustainable.
PFC Chief said in order to stop deforestation, punitive measures, and punishments were no longer an option. "We need to rethink preventive measures to halt deforestation and protect our natural resources rather striving to reverse it. We should not take for granted the ecosystem services and should conserve it for our benefits," he added.
Secretary PFC Aqul Sardar said that if government gives the status of industry to furniture sector, it can earn substantial foreign exchange and promote local handmade industry at international level by imparting training on modern lines to unskilled wood workers.
Related Topics
Recent Stories
Tennis: ATP Barcelona Open results - 1st update
Swiatek's perfect 10 in Stuttgart as Vondrousova stuns Sabalenka
Arandu's roads closed due to flooding
Oil tanker catches fire in Islamabad’s Blue Area
Pakistan committed to ensure safety of foreign nationals: FO
Tennis: WTA Stuttgart results - 1st update
Four passengers injured as train hit an empty vehicle
Over- speeding bus crushed to death two bike riders
Turkey's Freedom Flotilla ready to set sail for Gaza
French teen dies from heart failure after knife attack near school
Iranians appear unfazed by Isfahan blasts
UAF celebrates Int'l Chinese Language Day
More Stories From Business
-
Pakistan aims to agree outline of new IMF loan in May - Finance Minister
5 hours ago -
FTO commends FBR's role for prompt resolution of tax payers’ issues
5 hours ago -
BISP embraces E-procurement: launches inaugural tender
7 hours ago -
Business community indebted to Ahsan Zafar for his unprecedented services: Yousuf Rajput
7 hours ago -
China auto sector steps up Europe push with Spain plant
7 hours ago -
Condolence reference held in memory of FBR's officials
8 hours ago
-
Health activists ring alarm bells over 10-stick cigarette pack
9 hours ago -
Karachi receives maiden direct flight of Azerbaijan Airlines from Baku
9 hours ago -
PSX turns bullish, gains 619 points
9 hours ago -
Rupee bounces back; gains 13 paisa against dollar
9 hours ago -
Partners join hands for alternate use of marble, granite slury
9 hours ago -
Tokyo's Nikkei index tumbles 3% in morning trade
11 hours ago