SRINAGAR, Sept. 9 -- A high-level meeting chaired by Neelam Shami Rao, Secretary, Ministry of Textiles, was held in Srinagar on Tuesday to address concerns of exporters and stakeholders from Jammu and Kashmir's handicraft and carpet sector.

Senior officials, including the Commissioner, Secretary, Industries and Commerce Department, UT of J&K, also attended the meeting.

The meeting focused on the issue of machine-made carpets being sold as handmade products in handicraft showrooms.

Sheikh Ashiq, Member, Committee of Administration, Carpet Export Promotion Council (CEPC), raised the matter, highlighting the threat it poses to the livelihoods of thousands of artisans.

He noted that while orders had been issued by the UT authorities to cu...