Pakistan produces very fine quality leather which is recognized worldwide and a good quantity of Finished Leather is also sold locally to the Manufacturers of Leather Garments, Upholstery, Footwear, Gloves and other Leather Goods to enable them to meet their production requirements.

PTA’s leather producers have also started exporting fine quality furniture leather (upholstery) to the international market.

Due to unfavourable business atmosphere and various Int’l pressures the export of leather & leather products was drastically on the decrease. However, with passage of time and due to our exporters’ untiring efforts, extensive marketing strategy and quality improvement as well as through active participation in the international fairs, the sagging position has started improving satisfactorily. Now leather sector industry has come out of declining trend and started picking up gradually.

The export of leather and leather products has registered 7.11% increase as compared to the last year’s exports of $ 695 Million. The industry’s exports reached at $ 744 million during the year July-June 2003-04 evidently more than the export target of US$ 715 Million set by the Government. This is the highest achievement in exports by leather industry during the last decade.

Based on upward trend of exports of leather sector industry it is vividly foreseen that the target proposed by the Pakistan Tanners Association at US$ 265 Million for Leather Tanned and US$ 525 Million for Leather Garments and other Leather Products for the next financial year 2004-05 would also be achieved.

In order to meet the requirements of WTO, Leather Industry has to develop quality consciousness by upgrading its products to be competitive in the world market.

There are also challenges to meet the NEQS & Environmental regulations particularly in the wake of WTO regime to be effective from 1st January’2005. The leather industry is prepared to face such challenges with determination and sense of responsibility.

Pakistani tanners have ample potential to move ahead but in order to further develop the leather industry the Government has been requested to provide some due incentives and concessions to PTA’s member exporters.