Restricted leather export can boost Pakistan businesses: PBIF

Restrictions over the export of raw leather and semi-finished products can help boost the value-added products sector involved in making sports goods, garments, gloves, belts, bags, purses and footwear that is facing shortage of raw material, according to president of Pakistan Businessmen and Intellectuals Forum (PBIF) Mian Zahid Hussain.

Hussain said the skins of sacrificial animals worth billions are wasted every year due to inexperienced butchers, lack of proper storage facilities and load-shedding for which the government needs to launch a training program with the help of Pakistan Tanners Association, Pakistani media reported, quoting a PBIF press release.

This sector, comprising around 12800 units, is suffering from government apathy and cannot upgrade itself, resulting in reduced share of Pakistan in the international leather products trade, he said.

As the leather industry is part of the halal chain, it should also be promoted, he added.