LAHORE: Chief Executive Officer Pakistan Furniture Council Mian Kashif Ashfaq Thursday said that traditional cottage industries and handicrafts continue to play an important role in the economies of all Asian countries. Talking to a students delegation Department of Journalism ,School of Communication Studies Punjab university led by its head Prof Dr Bushra H Rehman, he said they not only constitute major manufacturing activities but also often the available means to provide additional employment and raise the living standards of rural dwellers. He said cottage industry play a surprising large role in improving a nation’s economic standing. He said cottage industry have faced many challenges over the ages from,at the time,industrial revolution and now globalisation.Most importantly,they generate gainful non agriculture based employment for those who can’t find jobs elsewhere he added.He said in addition to general abject poverty alleviation,developing cottage industries is an approach that can boost the rural economy and diversify its production. Mian Kashif Ashfaq said cottage industry clusters generate employment,local capacity and collective power for small entrepreneurs.He said in Pakistan,cottage or household industries hold an important position in rural set-up .He said many contemporary industries that currently operate in factories were once cottage industries before the industrial revolution.He … Continue reading Cottage industry and handicrafts play key role in the economies. Mian Kashif