Tanners demand curbs on hide exports
October 08, 2010
LAHORE: The newly elected Chairman Pakistan Tanners Association (PTA) Khurshid Alam said that the export of the leather sector can be increased to two billion dollars from current $863 million by implementing curbs on export of hides.
He alleged that the government policies were promoting smuggling of animals, export of wet-blue hides below the market price, and deducting huge taxes from this exporting industry.
“The industry is on verge of closure due to current situation, as the exports have dropped to $863 million from $1.22 billion in just three years due to government’s policies,” he said. The PTA chairman proposed to enhance 50 per cent export duty on both wet-blue grains and wet-blue spilt hides to ensure the raw material for local industry and promotion of value added sector.
If temporary ban is not feasible then minimum export price (MEP) for wet-blue could be adopted, increase the regulatory duty from 20 per cent to 50pc on the export of raw and wet-blue hides and invoices should be in square feet only and no invoices showing rate per kilogram or per piece may be accepted.
He alleged that the government policies were promoting smuggling of animals, export of wet-blue hides below the market price, and deducting huge taxes from this exporting industry.
“The industry is on verge of closure due to current situation, as the exports have dropped to $863 million from $1.22 billion in just three years due to government’s policies,” he said. The PTA chairman proposed to enhance 50 per cent export duty on both wet-blue grains and wet-blue spilt hides to ensure the raw material for local industry and promotion of value added sector.
If temporary ban is not feasible then minimum export price (MEP) for wet-blue could be adopted, increase the regulatory duty from 20 per cent to 50pc on the export of raw and wet-blue hides and invoices should be in square feet only and no invoices showing rate per kilogram or per piece may be accepted.
