Lahore- National Tariff Commission chairperson Ms. Rubina Athar accompanied by their Director Mr. Arshad, Deputy Director Sarfaraz and Assistant Director Mr. Mazhar pay official visit to Pakistan Footwear Manufacturer Associated office in Lahore. PFMA Chairman Mr. Zahid Hussain welcomes the delegation along with Footwear Industry key investor that provided detailed briefing toNational Tariff commission chairperson on the growth trajectory of the footwear industry during last 3 years. Pakistan’s Footwear Industry last three years growth can be evident with the facts that the sector has witness 92% import reduction in the finish goods and the share has been taken up by Local footwear manufacturers. At the same time, footwear industry has experience 22 percent growth in footwear export in last three years.
Footwear sector has conducted several meetings with National Tariff commission (NTC) and Ministry of Commerce Mr. Abdul Razak Dawood to explore full potential of Footwear sector as import substitute, whichcan bring substantial increase in export and createsemployment opportunities. The main focus of the meetings was tostrive every effort to make footwear sectoras import substitute because three years back, Footwear sector was importing 2.8 million pair of shoes products but now they are importing only 1.6million pairs of shoes and to enhance the footwear export in line with THE POLICY “Make in Pakistan”.In continuation of this, PFMA Invited NTC delegates to visit their office in Lahore to better understand the industry.Delegates have been taken to visit supporting footwear and its supporting industry. The delegationwas taken to pay visit to export industry, local Manufacturer and Raw material component manufacturer to develop understanding of the industry and rationalize duties on footwear Raw material. Because some of the raw material is being utilized by other industry so Duties are on higherside and NTC needs to be better explain on this issue. The delegates were thoroughly explained on each component of raw material used in footwear industry, which needs to be rationalized in order to make our products more competitive in the international market.
On this occasion PFMA Chairman Mr. Zahid Hussain appreciated Government to reaching out to the industry he further stated “Wehave detailed discussion with the delegates on each raw material and shown them Industry processes and shared Footwear sector contemporary issues. I believe this visit prove to be very productive for the industry as Government made serious efforts to resolve industry issues. This visits pave way for next year fiscal budget 2021-22 preparation in which PFMA and NTC will work together to introduce and implement industry friendly policies and regulation to help increase the productivity and make products competitive”.
PFMA will be submitting Industry Budget proposals with NTC in next month followed by series of meetings started from Oct 2021 to formulated footwear sector conducive policies. The PFMA budget proposal will be focused on reduction in duties on raw material of footwear industry to make local products competitive in the international market.
