Former PTA President S M Naseer told Pakistan’s Business Recorder that the once vibrant and export-oriented industry was facing about 35% shortage of hides after the government decision to allow export of live animals to Iran, Afghanistan and other countries.
He said that some people were involved in smuggling of live animals to different countries under the ‘name’ of live animal exports, making it difficult for the leather industry to purchase raw material from the local market for domestic use and export purposes.
Naseer demanded immediate ban on the export of live animals and stringent measures to stop their wholesale smuggling to protect the local tannery industry and jobs of million of skilled workers.
Chairman of the committee on halal meat, Nasib Ahmad Saifi said that export of live animals had increased prices of mutton in the local market and affected the export of halal meat.
He was of the view that the livestock sector was a key to the country’s economy, but unfortunately the government seemed to be destroying it by allowing export of live animals.
