Pakistan’s contribution to the global leather industry has been recognised with its selection as Focus Country at Asia Pacific Leather Fair (APLF) 2004.
Aimed at providing visitors an insight into the country's culture as well as its leather industry, Focus Country status will be used by Pakistan to showcase its complete leather sector, from hide and skin supply to finished leather products, particularly leather apparel, gloves and footwear.
Pakistan is one of the world’s most prodigious sources of raw material for the leather industry, supplying significant quantities of cow and buffalo hides and skins, sheepskins and goatskins. Pakistan’s speciality is goat and kidskins, for which it is the third largest producer after China and India. In sheepskins, Pakistan lies ninth, and in bovine hides and skins, sixth. In terms of leather production, Pakistan is the world’s twelfth largest producer.
“The Leather Industry of Pakistan contributes 5% of GDP and 7% of the overall export earnings of the country,” commented Mr S.M. Naseem, Chairman of the Pakistan Tanners Association. “With Pakistan as the Focus Country this year, we will have have 38 exhibiting companies from the PTA, in collaboration with EPB in APLF 2004. Additionally, another 12 individual companies will participate in Materials, Manufacturing and Technology outside the PTA pavilion.”
Leather garment exports from Pakistan climbed 54% to $191 million from July to December 2003. Apparel such as jackets, coats, skirts, trousers and gloves have long been the main finished products coming from Pakistan. Through the 1990s, footwear production became increasingly important. Closed uppers were the starting point, but now a wide range of footwear is manufactured in the country. Well over 200 million pairs were produced in 2001 and forecasts anticipate continued growth in production and exports.
