Leather industry facing crises for 30 years: PTA Chairman

Gulzar Firoz, Chairman, Pakistan Tanners Association (PTA) in a press statement

said that Leather Industry is facing the severest crises in the last 30 years. H
e said that recession in the world is one factor but cost of doing business in P
akistan and export incentives are more serious factors leading to sharp decline
in export. He said that in the last nine months period from July-March 2015-16 i
n terms of value the export has declined by 20% but in term of Quantity only in
Finished Leather the decline is about 26%. Thus this is very serious issue but t
he Government has not listened to our grievances. He said the following steps ar
e required immediately to save further decline and requested the Prime Minister,
Finance Minister and Commerce Minister to meet PTA delegation on priority basis
: 1. Bring down the rate of Electricity and Gas drastically. 2. Increase Duty Dr
awback Rates as recommended by IOCO which were slashed by FBR without giving any
reason. 3. Re-finance rate to be reduced from 3.5 percent to percent. 4. To exe
mpt Raw Hides & Skins from levy of Sales Tax which has already been accepted in
Finance Bill this Sixth Schedule of the Sales Tax Act, 1990 must be given retros
pective effect from 12th June'2013. 5. All pending Rebate/Refunds of Customs, Sa
les Tax should be released immediately before 30th May '2016. He said that there
are Budget proposals which are also to be considered but the above four demands
are "Live Saving Drugs" necessary to save the dwindling Leather Industry.-PR