Chairman of the Pakistan Tanners’ Association (PTA), Khawaja M. Yousuf has expressed concern over the pending issue of the New Generalised System of Preference (GSP) in Europe that has been launched by the European Council, effective January 1, 2006.

In a press statement, he said that under the GSP scheme Pakistani products have not been included in the list of the Beneficiary Countries, despite the PTA having continuously urged the government to include Pakistani products. He added that leather and leather goods in particular should be included so as to benefit from preferential tariff rates.

He urged the Ministry of Commerce to take stock of the situation and approach the European Union for the inclusion of Pakistan in the list of beneficiary countries in the New GSP Scheme for the 10-year period from 2006 to 2015, adding that India, China and Bangladesh have already been included.