Ministry of Commerce and Trade Development Authority of Pakistan (TDAP) assured their full support for facilitating the development and export of leather sector, especially to stop the smuggling and mis-declaration in export of wet blue leather. This was stated by Zafar Mahmood, Federal Secretary Commerce, while chairing a meeting of leading exporters here at TDAP to address the immediate concerns affecting the exports.
Chief Executive TDAP Tariq Puri briefed the meeting about the role of the Ministry of Commerce as well as TDAP to protect the interests of leather sector. The secretary commerce suggested that TDAP in collaboration with Pakistan Tanners Association (PTA) should devise a strategy to check the export of raw/wet blue leather and the Ministry and Authority would consider to having the mandatory membership of PTA for the export of leather skins to ensure that only genuine exporters can be benefited.
The secretary also assured that his ministry would support the PTA for complete ban of export of live animals so that raw material should be made available for the local industry and also for the much-needed value addition required in the leather sector. On tax and rebate related issues, Zafar suggested that PTA should plead case before the finance division. Those attended the meeting were Chairman PTA S.M Naseem, Chairman Din Group S.M Muneer, Naseem Shafi and Gulzar Firoz.