Tanners' body seeks relief package

Chairman, Pakistan Tanners Association (PTA), Sheikh Afzal Hussain has sought the intervention of Prime Minister Imran Khan, Advisor to PM on commerce, Abdul Razzak Dawood and Advisor to PM on finance & revenue, Abdul Hafeez Sheikh to announce "Special Relief Package" for this leather sector of Pakistan being second biggest export oriented value added industry of the country.

He said that the PTA meeting held on Thursday reiterated the demands/proposals which are utmost importance for the leather sector of Pakistan in view of gravity of the situation.

The basic demands of leather sector are to reinstate the "Zero rated status" of leather sector of Pakistan and to release the pending funds payable by the government to our member exporters immediately.

Propose to arrange to release of the funds already paid by the leather industry consecutively to the government's kitty on account of EOBI and social securities.

To allow to defer all utilities bills for 3 months (from March to May) with easy installments/adjustment.

Sheikh Afzal Hussain said maximum export orders have already been cancelled by the foreign buyers/customers and those which are already executed for the export are halted for the indefinite period for which our member exporters are facing financial stringencies.