Provincial Agriculture Minister Malik Ahmad Ali Aulakh has said that he has written a letter to Prime Minister Syed Yousaf Raza Gilani should take notice of the increase in the prices of urea. The price of 50-Kg bag of urea has now reached at Rs 1090. He said that farmers are already facing problems due to the increasing prices of electricity.
He was talking to Business Recorder after the National Conference on Pakistan's Leather Sector Challenges And Opportunities 2010 organised by Faculty of Animal Production University of Veterinary And Animal Sciences, Higher Education Commission and Leather Industry on Wednesday.
On this occasion UVAS Vice Chancellor Professor Dr Muhammad Nawaz and PCSIR Chairman Shoukat Pervez signed MoU under the theme 'University -Industry Partnership and technology transfer" to benefit the leather industry in Pakistan. Under such agreement PCSIR would provide all out support to UVAS faculty and students in the field of research and development and also provide access to the laboratories and leather processing plant and offering internship for the under-graduate and postgraduate students. The agreement would remain effective for two years.
Aulkah said that he had given a suggestion to the PM that there should be a price mechanism for increasing the prices of urea while its prices should be written on the bags like the prices of other products, which were written on them. He said that PM should take notice that despite giving subsidiary on the gas given to the companies why there was not any check and balance on their pricing.
Earlier while speaking at the seminar Aulakh said that leather industry is the second largest export-earning sector after textiles. He said that academia could help this industry to by the development of skilled human resource through improving the HRD institutions and encouraging the private sector to invest in skill enhancement, promoting research and development through establishing new institutions, technological up gradation ensuring quality standards and establishing common facility centers. He also said that there is a need of developing more strong relationship with foreign leather development institutes so that they send their skilled HR by establishing different knowledge producing workshops.
Aulak said that Punjab government is giving due importance to livestock sector as well as leather industry and trying to uplift the economic development of the country. Pakistan stands at 15th position in the world in leather production, 4th in leather garments, 2nd in leather gloves, and 36th in leather footwear. Currently leather sector is contributing significantly to the national exports. The leather and leather made-ups industry plays a significant role in the economy of Pakistan and its share in GDP is 4%.
Senior Vice President Lahore Chamber of Commerce And Industry (LCCI) Sheikh Muhammad Arshad said that leather industry in Pakistan is growing rapidly and will double its output in the next ten years if appropriate strategy is designed to uplift the different segments of the industry. He further stated that this leather conference open the new world of growing this sector that will strengthen and fortify the leather sector at the peak.
Country director J.E Austin Associate Inc USA Dr Warren Weinstein said that the creation of a degree program in leather sciences if accompanied by linkages with technical training institutes and active private sector involvement augurs well for the future of Pakistan's leather sector.
Director of research school of science and technology, University of Northampton Dr Mark Wilkinson said that Pakistan had rich supplies of leather raw material to enhance the competitiveness of Pakistani leather product in global market to increase export by adopting the way of research and modern techniques.
Punjab Livestock Secretary Muhammad Jehzeb Khan appreciated UVAS Vice Chancellor to develop partnership with the government as well as industry. He said that leather industry would come back soon on its feet due to the educational collaboration and expert human resource.
VC UVAS Professor Dr Muhammad Nawaz has said that leather industry is encountering a huge 30 to 40 per cent leather raw material wastage owing to lack of skilled manpower in this sector. If we trained human resource in dressing of skin small and large animals by applying modern methodology and techniques, Pakistan can generate more revenue through export. He said that UVAS would soon be launching a BS-4 year leather degree program with the collaboration of Northampton University and short courses to offer training at par international standards.
Chief executive Royal Industry Agha Saiddain said that government should provide financial assistance to the tanneries for establishing treatment plants. Executive Director HEC Dr Sohail H Naqvi while participating through videoconference stressed that university should collaborate with local industry and international standard to cash upon opportunities. He also acknowledged the UVAS imitative regarding Lahore Biotechnology Park and recent step to identify the industry problems in the way of export. Dean faculty of animal production and technology Professor Talat Naseer Pasha presented vote of thanks to the participants.
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