FAISALABAD: The furniture industry of Faisalabad and its adjoining district, Chiniot, is braving the crippling effects of inflation, with the skilled artisans feeling the heat and switching to other businesses to make ends meet, reports Media .
Mukhtar Ahmed, an artisan with a rich experience in furniture-making, is currently struggling to switch over to some other profession to earn his livelihood.
Sharing his firsthand experience in a brief talk with Media , Mukhtar said the furniture industry was on the decline due to the surging cost of raw materials and shortage of Sheesham — the primary source of furniture-making.
He said the majority of people fancied Sheesham furniture due to its affordability and durability. However, this tree was diminishing fast in Pakistan due to a disease.
“Our owners are unable to source wood at reasonable prices and increase the furniture prices owing to the unbridled inflation. Besides, the prices of raw materials the high cost of energy and heavy taxes are also adding to their woes. The fragile condition of the furniture industry has made the lives of artisans extremely miserable,” Mukhtar said.
Sensing a shortage of wood, he said the factory owners did their best to explore alternatives, but to no avail.
“Sheesham wood is prized due to its aesthetic appeal, durability and affordability. The workers can easily shape it. We can safely say that the entire furniture industry of Faisalabad and Chiniot heavily relies on this wood,” he added.
In addition to inflation, advancements in technology are also hitting the workers’ jobs, as people are less interested in handmade furniture due to its higher costs.
Talking to Media , Muhammad Kashif, a furniture workshop owner, said, “Multiple financial layers of burden being imposed by the government are forcing us to raise the prices of furniture. We did it, leading to a decline in our sales. The resulting financial strain forced us to go for reduction.”
He said inflation was significantly impacting the furniture industry, as people seemed less interested in buying the stylish designs, even for their children’s weddings. The fluctuating cost of fuel and high rates of electricity are hitting our production and sales, he added.
“Our profit margins are shrinking, making it difficult for us to meet our expenses. Retrenchment is the only cost-cutting solution and we are opting for this option. The reduction is leading to unemployment and unrest in the furniture industry,” he claimed.
Naseem Ali, a furniture showroom owner, urged the government to extend subsidies to the furniture industry on raw materials. This vital industry is fetching foreign exchange and feeding countless families locally. He argued that the low prices of raw materials would help the furniture industry survive and protect the jobs of artisans and allied businesses.
Proposing a long-term solution, he said the Punjab government should task the educational institutions and forest department with protecting and planting Sheesham trees — the lifeline of the furniture industry. This approach, he claimed, would benefit the furniture sector and national exchequer in the long run.
Without finding sustainable solutions, he said the furniture industry would remain in the doldrums as long as the policymakers appeared least concerned about protecting it. –INP
