Pakistan Tanners Warn Transport Shutdown Could Hit Leather Exports

Pakistan’s leather industry has urged the government to take immediate action over a proposed indefinite transport strike, warning that prolonged disruption could delay export shipments and put additional pressure on an already challenged sector.

The Pakistan Tanners Association (PTA) has raised concerns with Federal Commerce Minister Jam Kamal Khan, seeking government intervention to ensure the uninterrupted movement of export and import cargo.

“An extended transport shutdown could make it difficult for leather exporters to move consignments to ports on schedule. This could affect the execution of existing export orders and the delivery commitments made to international buyers” , PTA Chairman Hamid A. Zahur said.

The warning comes at a difficult time for Pakistan’s leather industry. According to the association, exporters are already facing challenges in securing international orders due to high production costs and declining export performance.

A prolonged transport disruption could further increase these difficulties by preventing exporters from meeting agreed delivery schedules. Zahur warned that delays could expose exporters to contractual issues, including possible breaches of commitments and letters of credit (LCs) established with overseas buyers.

For an export-oriented industry where timely shipment is critical, any prolonged disruption to road transportation could have a direct impact on business operations and customer relationships.

The PTA has therefore called on the Commerce Ministry to coordinate with the relevant government departments and take immediate steps to resolve the transport dispute. The association stressed that uninterrupted transportation services are essential for ensuring the timely movement of leather consignments to ports.

Zahur also highlighted the importance of maintaining export flows for Pakistan’s foreign exchange earnings. Leather and leather products remain an important value-added export segment, supporting manufacturing activity and employment across the supply chain.

The industry is now seeking prompt government intervention to prevent the proposed indefinite strike from causing further disruption to export-oriented businesses.

For Pakistan’s leather exporters, avoiding shipment delays will be particularly important as companies continue to compete for international orders while dealing with rising operating costs and weaker export conditions.