Sunday, December 07, 2008
By Jawwad Rizvi
LAHORE: Pakistan Tanner Association (PTA) has canceled its scheduled visit to India after the recent Mumbai incidents.Newly elected chairman of the PTA Agha Saiddain talking to The News said that the PTA had canceled its tour to India following the uncertainty there. The visit was scheduled before the tragic incident in Mumbai, but after the incident the PTA has cancelled it due to security reasons, he said.A group of tanners were to participate in the Chennai Leather Fair-2009 to be held on January 31, 2009. But after the Mumbai attacks, the PTA has unanimously decided in a meeting of the association to drop the participation of PTA members in Chennai leather fair, he added.Some Pakistani companies had registered themselves to participate in the Chennai Fair and 40 representatives were planning to go there, he mentioned.However, after the irresponsible statements by Indian politicians and allegations on Pakistan for being responsible for the Mumbai unrest, the PTA has decided not to attend the fair, Saiddain remarked. The managing committee of PTA has also passed a resolution condemning the terrorist attacks of Mumbai in the meeting.Talking about the wave of terrorism in Mumbai, Agha Saiddain expressed that Pakistan itself is a victim of terrorism but unfortunately the Indian leadership always points a finger on Pakistan for any such terrorist activity in India. He said the leather industry of both the countries has an excellent relationship but under the present circumstances, they feel there is a great security risk for their members in the forthcoming fair.He requested the leadership of both the countries to start a relationship based on trust and sincerity for the betterment of both the nations. He further said that people living below poverty level are in large numbers in both the countries and both can not afford a conflict.Agha Saiddain said that both the governments should resolve the matter through bilateral negotiations based on trust and confidence in the interest of both the nations.Talking about trade with India in leather products, Agha Saiddain pointed out that Pakistan had traded over $130 million with India in 2007-08 which is 3.1 per cent of the total leather industry trade of Pakistan. Being a niche market after the shifting of the shoe industry from China to India, Pakistani leather has great demand in India, he said, adding, Pakistani leather is one of the finest in the world.He pointed out that Pakistani leather is the need of the Indian shoe industry as cow leather which is the finest of its kind, is scarce in India. This is because the slaughtering of cows is a crime in India, since it is considered a scared animal for them.Talking about the Pakistani leather industry, he said that Pakistan is far ahead of India in terms of technology and is currently producing at par with Italian quality leather, while India had been banned from importing processing chemicals and machines which delayed the technology transformation in the country.
1 comment:
Mumbai being one of the costliest cities in the world, it is only natural that the hotels in Mumbai are of the international standards. Apart from the luxury one the place also abounds in a number of budget hotels, especially for the business traveler. Hotel in Navi Mumbai is not owing to any condition. The business hotels in Navi Mumbai experiences rush at all times of the year.
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