Chairman, the Pakistan Tanners Association (PTA) (Central) Agha Saiddain has said that elimination of zero-rated sales tax on electricity and gas bills would hamper the country's exports and urged the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) to avoid taking such decision.

He expressed his concern over news regarding elimination of the zero rate sales tax facility on electricity and gas bills and has asked the FBR authorities to convene a meeting of the stakeholders prior to finalising any decision in this regard that could severely impact the country's exports negatively. He further said that incentive packages are being announced world over to save the industry from total collapse because of the current global recession. The developed economies have taken the lead while the developing countries are following the footsteps of the USA and the European countries.

 The newly elected President of the USA, Barak Obama has also introduced stimulus of US $787 billion to save the American economy. Pakistan is also facing historical trade deficit of more then $11 billion just in seven months of the current financial year. The imports have increased to double of the exports that forced the Pakistan government to seek IMF financial assistance; he stressed the need for combating the trade deficit issue by enhancing exports.