What we know of home appliance industry of Pakistan.

Byline: Sabiha Abid

The Home Appliance Industry of Pakistan was set up in 1980's on the basis of fiscal parameters, which were offered by the Government of Pakistan. There has been a significant upward rise in the production of domestic appliances such as refrigerators, smartphones, TVs, watches and other small electronic appliances over the past few years. Moreover, 95 per cent of domestic market is occupied by the home appliances sector. Middle East, South Asia and Africa are the regions for our potential exports. Haier being one of the leading brands of Pakistan is exporting air conditioners to 32 countries and regions, including the United States, Italy, France, Russia and India. Other major companies are Dawlance, PEL and Orient, which are also participating in exports of Pakistan.

Extremely diversified range of home appliances is being manufactured in Pakistan like:-

* Air conditioners

* Refrigerators, freezers

* Kitchen appliances (microwave oven, cooking ranges, water dispensers etc.)

* Domestic appliances (sewing machines, washing machines etc.).

A home appliance, also referred to as a domestic appliance, an electric appliance and a household appliance, is a machine which assists in household functions, such as cooking, cleaning and food preservation.

Home appliance and electronic goods are the main integral component of our daily life. A frequent use of electronic goods and home appliances has resulted into the emergence of an important industry named as electronics goods and home appliances. It needs to be handled with velvet gloves by the government and the proper strategies should be devised. Policies should be formulated and implemented at the state level.

Consumption of home appliance in our homes has not only made our lives easier but it has enhanced the productivity of human beings and has improved the work life balance of many by sparing more hours to spend with our loved ones and focus on our health. Home appliances have been categorised into three types as white goods, black goods and gray market of small appliances.

White goods consists of heavy consumer durables like air conditioners, refrigerators, washing machines, sewing machines, vacuum cleaners, dish washers, deep freezers, microwave ovens, kitchen stoves, trash compacts, drying cabinets, cookers, electric and gas ovens switch gears, energy meters, transformers, clothes dryers, geysers, water heaters, electric kettles etc.

White goods were typically painted or enameled white, and many of them still are so these durable home appliances are called white goods. The other name of white appliances are major appliances. These are designed for housekeeping tasks.

Consumer electronics and home electronics are electronics both (digital and analog) equipment designed internationally, for everyday use, typically in our private homes. Consumer electronics include devices used for entertainment, communications and recreation. These are brown in colour to distinguish them from white goods, which are made for "housekeeping task'. Black goods contain relatively light electronic durables such as TVs, radios, computers, tablets, camcorders, digital cameras, VCRs, DVD players, still cameras, clocks, alarm clocks, video games consoles, HIFI and home cinema, telephones and answering machines.

Small appliances is the third category they are typically small household electrical machines used in the kitchen. We may call these machines as kitchen helpers. These machines are used as tools for house wives in the kitchen and make their work easy and cooking comfortable. These machines include juicers, electric mixers, meat grinders, coffee grinders, deep fryers, food processors, electric kettles, waffle irons, coffee makers, blenders and dough blenders, vacuum cleaners, grills, roasters, electric shavers, electric hair clippers, Electric hair removing appliances, electric hair dryers, other hair dressing equipment, rice cookers, toasters and exhaust goods etc. Brown goods specifically require high technical knowledge and skills (which get more complex with time), while white goods may need more practical skills and force to manipulate the devices and heavy tools required to repair them.

Gray market goods are manufactured abroad but are imported in the country without permission from the trade holder. Gray market goods are not counterfeits, but these are different from the original products of the primary producers. Some of these differences are variation in warranty time as per regulatory requirement of the country. The result of this practice...