Chief Executive Pakistan Furniture Council (PFC) Mian Kashif Ashfaq has said that for the first time an Afghan business delegation is heading to Pakistan to attend 3-day mega “Interiors Pakistan” on December 14 at Expo Center here and display their traditional furniture products to attract local buyers besides this they would also exchange expertise and strengthen business ties in furniture sector. The CE PFC disclosed this while chairing a meeting of board of directors here on Saturday and expressed his satisfaction over all arrangements of “Interiors Pakistan”. He also gave special directions to give warmhearted welcome to all foreign delegations and accommodate with the best available facilities besides accommodation and conveyance services. Mian Kashif Ashfaq said that the PFC was focusing on providing opportunities to local exporters to interact with prospective importers of their products. “The objective of the expo is to enhance export trade of the country, which could not be achieved without providing opportunities of interaction between buyers and sellers,” he said. “This 3-day expo will give a large number of businesses worldwide a head start on buying and ordering for coming seasons,” he added. He further said that the exhibition will help local entrepreneurs to display their products and enable foreign buyers to meet their procurement needs from Pakistan. “Our country has great potential in different sectors. I hope this expo will achieve desired trade objectives, which would help Pakistan in earning foreign exchange as well as meeting the import procurement needs of the country,” he stated. Mian Kashif said there is dire need to enhance trade volume with our neighboring Afghanistan as trade volume of bilateral trade between Pakistan and Afghanistan has dropped from its high of $2.5 billion to a mere $500 million in a few years. He said the FPCCI and federal government ought to play their role to boost the trade between the two neighbouring countries. He said this “Interiors Pakistan” exhibition would help giving impetus to mutual trade of both the countries and both the sides would focus on enhancing trade instead of exchanging heated accusations. He said the good thing is that due to the daring role of the traders and entrepreneurs the country kept moving forward in the troubled years. He said things were changing and peace and security has returned to areas adjacent to border areas of both the countries due to which the government is now in a position to take further steps for economic revival of the country. Mian Kashif Ashfaq said “The vision behind Interiors Pakistan is to create a space for furniture display and promotion across the country. The national exhibitions groom local producers to access the international markets and increase their potential markets,” adding he said this exhibition will also provide the younger designers and architects to study the market trends. Published in Daily Times, December 9th 2018.