The Pakistan Tanners Association (PTA) and other trade bodies in Pakistan are strongly protesting against the drastic price increases of petroleum products effective May 1.

PTA chairman Khawaja Yousuf expressed deep concern over the increases announced by the Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority and said that they will have a serious impact on the leather industry. He claimed that the price of these products has been increased considerably despite assurances from the government that this would not occur.

Exporters, inluding those in the important leather sector, will be worst affected as it will be hard for them to compete in the world market due to irising production costs.