History of Carpet Manufacturing and Carpet Companies in Pakistan

Historians believe that carpet manufacturing was started to the region now constituting Pakistan back in 11th century, when the first Muslim conquerors the ghaznavids and the ghauris came here. The carpets manufactured in the indo-pak sub-continent were very famous during the mughal period. At that time these carpets were in high demand among carpet importers in abroad. Because these carpets have distinctive designs and boasted a rich knotting density. The art of weaving has remained strong over the last more than 400 years, although it has had ups and down during this time.

At partition of Pakistan and India in 1947, the carpet manufacturers, who were mostly Muslim, migrated to Lahore. In the confusion and displacement of partition, the carpet manufacturers often joined other trades. But some carpet manufactures in Lahore began to try to regroup and reorganize the weavers in the following year.

The industry was re-energized and since the 1960s it has become an increasingly efficient and well-managed business, managed by strong centralized control. Some carpets manufacturers in Pakistan like Rauf Carpets, have hundred of looms installed in small towns and rural areas, while others have sub-contractors in different regions of Pakistan. They all produce carpets and rugs to order, with exact criteria laid down to manage the sizes, designs, colors and qualities. Today Pakistan is one of most popular countries that are known to produce beautifully crafted hand-knotted carpets.

Pakistani rugs are generally superior to Indian and Chinese carpets. Pakistani carpets can be divided into following broad categories.

1. Single Knot which employ turkoman influence, usually Bokhara, Jaldar and Caucasian schemes. The single knot is generally referred to as Mori Bokhara or Jaldar.

Some single knot carpets:

# R1154
10x14

# R1153
9x12

# R1152
8x10

# R1151
7x10

# R1150
6x9

# R1149
4x6

# R1148
Runner

# R1147
Runner

# R1146
Runner

# R1145
Runner

# R1144
Runner

# R1143
Runner

# R1142
4x6

# R1141
4x6

# R1140
4x6

# R1139
4x6

# R1138
-

# 1140
6x9

# 1139
6x9

# 1138
6x9

# 1137
6x9

# 1136
6x9

# 1135
6x9

# 1134
4x6

# 595
4x6

# R119
4x6

# 1132
4x6

# 2049
4x6

# AR2050
4x6

# 1131
4x6

# 1130
4x6

# 1129
4x6

# 1128
4x6

#
4x6 Butterfly

# 1126
4x6

# 1125
4x6

# 1124
4x6

# 1123
4x6 Modern Bokhara

# 1117
4.5x7

# 1116
4.5x7

# 1102
6x9

# 1100
5x8

# R570
6x9

# R569
7x10

# R568
6x9

# R567
5x8

# R566
6x9

# R565
7x10

# R564
5x8

# R563
6x9

# R562
5x8

# R561
5x8

# R560
5x8

# R559
6x9

# R558
4x6

# R557
4x6

# R556
4x6

# R555
4.5x7

# R554
4.5x7

# R553
4.5x7

# R552
3x5

# R551
3x5

# R550
3x5

2. Double Knot generally marketed as "Sotri" and "Pak Persian", is asymmetrical knotted (Senneh) with very high knot counts. Unique themes, traditional and mughal designs, delicate patterning and vivid palette of colors, makes them ideal for virtually every room in your home. There are different qualities in double knot carpets based on knot counts such as 14/14, 16/16, 20/20. The highest knot count, the finest quality.

Some double knot carpets:

# R01041
9x12

# R01040
9x12

# R01038
8x10

# R01033
9x12

# R01032
9x12

In Pakistan, carpets are manufactured nowadays with fine New Zealand worsted wool making these carpets very similar to silk carpets. Carpets with a high knot density provide strong durability at a lower price than its Persian parallels.

At their best Pakistani carpets are very good value for money particularly when considering the fineness of the knotting in the better quality items. Pakistani Manufacturers now produce carpets called Kazak, Garghai, Chobi, Ziegler, and Chechen that are very beautiful and decorative rugs.

According to the Pakistan Carpet Manufacturers and Exporters Association (PCMEA, 2003) there are 150000-200000 looms in the country. The number of weavers are estimated around 200000-250000.