PTA raises leather concerns with government minister
Zafar Mahmood, secretary for the Pakistan Ministry of Commerce recently met with representatives from the Pakistan Tanners Association (PTA) to discuss issues related to leather exports. During the meeting, PTA chairman Gulzar Firoz demanded a stimulus package for the leather industry.
Mr Firoz asked the government for raw hides and skins to be exempt from VAT and for a ban on livestock export and smuggling.
He also urged the government to reduce duties on chromium sulphate, formic acid and fat liquors, which are used in large measures by the leather industry. Among other requests, he asked for a change in duty drawback rates to allow Pakistani leather producers to cope with competition from India, China and Bangladesh.
Mr S Muneer, former PTA chairman, expressed his concerns that concerns the association put forward before the budget was introduced have not been taken into account. He asked Mr Mahmood to offer the leather industry a suitable relief package in order to prevent further declines.
Mr Mahmood said the commerce ministry would evaluate the proposals and spend time thinking about the issues raised.
