KARACHI – Korangi Association of Trade and Industry (KATI) Patron In-Chief and Chairman S M Muneer has said that the twin menace of livestock smuggling and authorities’ acquiescence to livestock exports will be taken up with the federal government because not only will meat prices escalate alarmingly but also endanger the future of the leather industry.
Addressing a reception hosted by Pakistan Tanners Association (PTA) in his honour, Muneer said it was a matter of serious concern that the government is not taking any active measures to curb massive smuggling of livestock to Iran and Afghanistan due to which the prices of hides and skins have become prohibitively expensive due to a shortage with the exporters unable to meet export orders.
“It is alarming and perplexing that the government has allowed unregulated export of livestock due to which massive smuggling is continuing under garb of export”, Muneer said, adding that government should have to take immediate action to halt this practice in order to save the economy’s second largest export sector.
He also complained that the attitude of the EOBI Chairman was particularly troubling to industrialists. He mentioned that EOBI chief has recently sealed a factory leaving many workers jobless. He claimed that in such a grim situation for the economy when industries are closing down due to the massive overheads and ever increasing utilities costs and government charges, the EOBI chief is harassing factories owners. He warned the EOBI chairman to mend his ways and threatened to arrange a press conference at the FPPCCI level to be held against this highhandedness.
He said that government is highlighting the meeting of export targets during current fiscal year but this is only going to be due to an increase in global prices of commodities and cotton while Pakistan has not achieved any export growth in real terms while we are unable to increase trade volumes.
Muneer lauded the services of PTA Chairman Aziz Ahmed’s service to the leather sector and carrying out various works and improving infrastructure of Tannery Zone.
Gulzar Firoz in his address expressed his concern over the increasing prices of skins and hides and urged the government to immediately ban export of livestock or at least impose export duty and to regulate the trade.
He stressed that the government should not withdraw GST exemption in the case of the export sector. He said that there should be no payment, no refund status declared for export sector.
PTA Chairman Aziz Ahmed praised the assistance provided by KITE Chairman, Haseeb Khan for providing funds for street lights in tannery zone and carpeting of Korangi causeway. Aziz said that while he is trying to tackle many issues in Sector 7 with illegal hydrants being removed from the area and encroachments and roads repairs being taken up.
Livestock drain endangers leather industry’s viability
