The export of leather garments has declined by 28 percent during July-December 2004 due to excessive export of hides and wet blue leather causing shortage of raw leather in the local market Chairman Pakistan Leather Garments Manufacturers and Exporters Association (Plgmea), Fawad Ijaz Khan demanded of commerce minister to impose 20 percent export duty on raw hides and wet blue leather to ensure availability of essential raw material to local leather garment manufacturers.

He said that shortage of raw leather had hiked its price making it difficult for leather garment exporters to compete in international market and to fulfil export orders. The garment factories were compelled to import becoming dependent on imported leather.

Giving statistics Fawad stated that leather garment exports declined from $185 million to $132 million currently whereas exports of leather surged by 16 percent to $135 million from $117 million during the period July to December 2004.-PR

Copyright Business Recorder, 2005