Chairman PSMA, Sheikh M Ilyas said the local industry is facing very tough time and serious efforts needed to encourage the private sector to play an effective role in reviving economy. He said that most of the raw materials for soap industry are being imported from Malaysia/Indonesia. There is a big volume of bilateral trade between Pakistan and Malaysia and Indonesia under Free Trade Agreement (FTA) and Preferential Trade Agreement (PTA).
He said that Customs authority must allow release of goods with the benefit of PTA certificate issued by Indonesian government to our members, because due to delay they are facing huge losses of production. Vice Chairman PSMA, Khawaja Salim Ahmed hoped that Khokhar shall make efforts to resolve the problems of Soap industry. He further appreciated the efforts of PSMA executive member and former president KCCI Abdullah Zaki who arranged this meeting.