Pakistan Tanners Association (PTA) Chairman Sheikh Afzal Hussain has expressed confidence on Prime Minister Imran Khan that the proposed "Relief Package" for export Industries as proposed to be announced on coming Tuesday (24.03.2020) must have the following core demands of leather sector of Pakistan (Tanning Industry) as well, as already demanded :
a) Immediate release of sales tax, income tax and duty drawback claims to leather sector / PTA's member exporters, as the no claims has been released from Sept-2019.
The leather sector are utmost desperate to get back their cash flow to avoid liquidity crunch to pay off their financial liabilities to enable to retain their labor, which is the supreme demand of the industry.
b) Immediate removal of AGST & ACD, which are completely irrational permanently, while the custom duty may also be reduced @ 50% on import of basic tanning chemicals for the industry.
c) Consider to make significant reduction of interest rate preferably up to 7-8%.
d) Withdrawal of levies - 1) SESSI, 2) EOBI & EDS for 1 year at least,
e) Arrange alternate fleet preferably PIA to carry the export shipments lying pending at all airports.
f) Removal of "Arrears" already charged in Electricity Bills like 1) fuel Adjustment, ISPA, peak hrs charges etc.
All the above are the basic and core demands of leather industry, which is the 2nd biggest export oriented value added Industry of the country to facilitate with lots of motivation to PTA's member exporters to make them equip able to combat for survival under the critical condition of business scenario within the country & internationally.
Sheikh Afzal Hussain is much confident as already assured by the Advisor to Prime Minister on commerce & textile Abdul Razak Dawood during a meeting held with exporters with PTA in TDAP's Karachi office that al core demands would be announced by the government with "special relief package" for the export industries including leather sector of Pakistan.