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Express Tribune
15 hours ago
- Health
- Express Tribune
Deaths from Congo virus
Listen to article Just this week, five fatal cases of the Crimean Congo Haemorrhagic Fever (CCHF), commonly called Congo fever, have been reported in the country. Three of the deaths happened in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa and two in Karachi. The deaths in Karachi – of two men ageing 25 and 42 – mark the first in Sindh this year from Congo virus. Both succumbed within days of their diagnoses, highlighting the severity of the disease and the lack of timely intervention, medical preparedness, and public awareness surrounding it. Despite being endemic and officially recognised as a major public health threat, the prevalence of Congo virus is not widely documented in Pakistan. Symptoms of the disease can include fever, muscle pains, headache, vomiting, diarrhoea, and even bleeding under the skin. The virus is mainly spread to humans through tick bites or by coming into contact with the blood or tissue of infected animals, which exacerbates its spread during and after the Eid-ul Azha season. This year, roughly 6.8 million animals were sacrificed in Pakistan, according to the Pakistan Tanners Association (PTA). However, the country lacks a proper system required to manage the health and safety risks of such a large-scale event. Livestock are often brought into the city without regulatory health screening and temporary cattle markets are erected without an understanding of biosecurity protocols. The use of gloves, protective clothing and proper disposal of animal waste is advised by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) ahead of the festival but not only are these practices barely observed, they are often considered unnecessary and needless. Unfortunately, prevention and care are the only options for managing the Congo virus as there are no FDA- or WHO-approved drugs for CCHF, or a commercially available vaccine. Therefore, the government must boost its efforts to strengthen surveillance, public awareness and biosecurity measures to prevent wider outbreaks in the future.
Business Recorder
11-06-2025
- Business
- Business Recorder
Eid-ul-Adha 2025: Pakistan tanners say collected more animal skins, hides this year
The Pakistan Tanners Association (PTA) has reported an increase in the collection of sacrificial animal skins and hides after Eid-ul-Adha 2025, with the number rising to over 7.4 million this year, against 7.3 million recorded last year. The association cited a decrease in skins and hides wastages this year as one of the reasons for the increase in the collection, but termed the increase 'unusual' amid a decrease in purchasing power and rising costs of animals. Pakistan Tanners Association demands resolution of issues facing leather industry The PTA said around 5% of skins and hides were wasted this year, compared to 10-15% last year. Source: Pakistan Tanners Association The number of skins and hides collected this year exceeded 7.4 million, 1.4% increase against 7.3 million, according to the PTA estimates. Eid-ul-Adha 2025: trade peaks at Asia's largest cattle market in Karachi The association estimated the worth of the collected 7.4 million skins and hides at around Rs7.5 billion, with a cow hide estimated at Rs1,775, followed by goat, sheep, camel, buffalo skins/hides valued at Rs446, Rs47, Rs578, and Rs1,680 each, respectively. These animals skins and hides are widely used in Pakistan by the leather industry to make clothing, footwear, handbags, and different other products.
Business Recorder
07-06-2025
- Business
- Business Recorder
Islamabad: rates of sacrificial animals increase
ISLAMABAD: The prices of sacrificial animals have registered an increase of 75-100 per cent this year as compared with the prices of past year, revealed a survey carried out by Business Recorder. Animal traders have stated various reasons for such a huge increase in the prices including increased input costs, transportation costs, government fees and others. While the buyers have condemned animal traders for unilaterally increasing prices manifold, saying in the past they had some valid reasons but this year there is no smuggling to Afghanistan, petrol/ diesel prices are stable for the past one year, fodder prices have also not increased and the authorities have better managed animal market ridding the traders of extortion. According to buyers, on this Eidul Adha the prices of animals across major cities like Lahore, Karachi, and Islamabad have skyrocketed, resulting in leaving many buyers frustrated, with rates rising by up to 75 to 100 per cent compared to last year. Last year, a smaller heifer could be purchased for Rs100,000-125,000, but this year even a low-weight one is priced at Rs200,000 or more. Buyers are increasingly voicing concerns about the lack of official regulation in animal pricing, which has led traders to set prices arbitrarily, forcing consumers to haggle for a better deal. Animals are primarily sourced from larger markets in Punjab and Sindh, with medium-sized traders incurring additional costs for transportation to metropolitans like Karachi and Lahore, including fuel, taxes, and maintenance at the local markets, which include expenses for lighting and security. Once all these costs are accounted for, traders add their margin, which can range from Rs15,000 to Rs50,000 for smaller animals and up to Rs200,000 for larger ones. A bull with three maunds of meat was priced between Rs 120,000 to Rs150,000 last year, whereas, this year, the price ranges from Rs150,000 to Rs200,000. Mosques have fixed the price of one share in a cow or bull between Rs40,000 to Rs50,000 against Rs35000 to Rs50,000 per share last year. Cattle farms in major cities such as Karachi, Lahore, Rawalpindi, and Islamabad cater to the demand for large animals, with prices ranging from Rs0.5 million to over Rs10 million for some elite bulls. The goat market has also seen similar price increases. Medium-weight goats, which were previously sold for Rs30,000 to Rs35,000, are now priced between Rs60,000 and Rs75,000. Rates of some goats are reaching up to Rs300,000 depending on their breed and build. Rams and sheep are also experiencing a price surge, with prices ranging from Rs40,000 to Rs200,000 or more, influenced by factors like weight and appearance. Camel prices have also increased, with traders noting a growing interest in camel sacrifices over the past two years. Camels brought in from different parts of Sindh are now priced at Rs400,000 and above. According to a preliminary data compiled by Pakistan Tanners Association (PTA), in 2024 around 6.8 million sacrificial animals were slaughtered on Eid-ul-Adha of which 2.9 million cows, 3.3 million goats, 385,000 sheep, 165,000 buffalos and 98,700 camels. The PTA estimated total value of the animals at $1.8 billion or Rs500 billion. The value of sacrificial animals' hides in 2024 was estimated at around 30 million. Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
Business Recorder
04-06-2025
- Business
- Business Recorder
Pakistan leather industry seeks cut in import duties on chemicals
Pakistan's leather industry has proposed lowering of customs duties on the import of chemicals used in leather manufacturing, saying it will help make the sector regionally competitive and viable, it was learnt on Wednesday. Hamid Arshad Zahur, Central Chairman of the Pakistan Tanners Association (PTA), proposed to reduce customs duty from 20% to 16%, and Additional Customs Duties (ACD) from 4% to 2% across all chemical imports. The development comes as Muslims around the world are to celebrate Eid-ul-Adha this week. In Pakistan, the first day of Eid will fall on Saturday, June 7. According to Zahur, around 40% of Pakistan's total leather production is sourced through sacrifice of animals during Eid-ul-Adha. Sharing statistics, PTA central chairman said tanners received around 0.7 million animal hides, including 4.5 million goats, 2.5 million cows, 0.5 million sheep, and 25,000 camels last year. The total value of the collected hides was estimated at Rs10 billion, he said. Zahur further stated that around 25% of the hides, worth approximately Rs4 billion, were spoiled due to 'mishandling and the failure to preserve them with salt in a timely manner'. 'Tanners have been urging both the federal and provincial governments to establish proper abattoirs to prevent the wastage of hides,' he said. 'The country lost hides worth Rs4 billion due to improper handling, which constitutes 40% of total local production.' PTA central chairman emphasised that the government should establish centralised slaughterhouses for carrying out religious sacrifices similar to other Muslim countries such as Saudi Arabia, Malaysia, Türkiye, Indonesia, and others. In its budget proposals, PTA requested to keep the export sector under the original Fixed Tax Regime, but to increase the turnover tax from 1% to 1.5% to increase government revenue. Eid-ul-Adha 2025: trade peaks at Asia's largest cattle market in Karachi The leather sector is normally working at a 4-8% profit margin in general and hence a 1.5% turnover tax will actually be a net 25% tax on profit and in line with the Federal Board of Revenue's (FBR) revenue generation targets, according to the PTA. Zahur urged not to bring the export sector under the final tax regime. He opposed the proposal to apply sales tax at the import of raw materials under the Export Facilitation Scheme (EFS) in the next budget. 'This step by the FBR/Ministry of Finance will totally negate the basic principal of no duty, no drawback under which the EFS was originally developed,' he said. 'One wrong has been done last year by imposing sales tax on domestic sales under EFS and it will be a second wrong to impose sales tax on import of raw material under the EFS, going forward. 'This will lead to a cash flow crunch, defeat the very purpose of the EFS and be detrimental in increasing the exports any further,' PTA official said. He urged the government to bring the EFS back to its original form as on June 30, 2024, whereby purchase of domestic and imported raw materials under EFS was exempt from any duties or taxes. Meanwhile, PTA suggested to bring down the rate of sales tax down to 17% in the next budget from the current 18%. It also proposed minimum tax threshold for salaried individuals at Rs1.2million per annum.
Business Recorder
02-06-2025
- Business
- Business Recorder
Preferential tariffs to help bolster Pak-Turkiye trade: CG
KARACHI: The preferential tariffs between Pakistan and Turkiye would help bolster trade in the leather sector between the two countries, said the Consul General of Turkiye, Cemal Sangu, during a meeting with a delegation of leather manufacturers and exporters. 'Preferential Trade Agreement is in its final stages between Pakistan and Turkiye,' Sangu said, advising the tanners' delegation to look into it thoroughly by contacting the Ministry of Commerce and seeking preferential tariffs in order to increase trade between the two countries in the near future. A delegation of Pakistan Tanners Association (PTA) comprising its Central Chairman Hamid Arshad Zahur, Chairman (Southern Zone) Danish Aman, Vice Chairman Yousuf Shafiq, along with other prominent members, attended the meeting. Murat Ozmen, Commercial Attaché of Turkiye, was also present at the meeting. During the discussions, the PTA Chairman extended an invitation to Cemal Sangu and Murat Ozmen to attend the Pakistan Mega Leather Show (PMLS) scheduled for January 2026 in Lahore. The invitation encouraged Turkish participation in exploring Pakistan's approximately USD 1 billion leather market. Consul General said Pakistan and Turkiye are two countries but one nation, and during recent conflicts with India, we extended support to our brothers and sisters because Turkiye has never forgotten the help extended by the Pakistani people during the Khilafat Movement. Which is why, he said, this bond is highlighted in school celebrations. During the meeting, Danish Aman expressed deepest regards for all the support received from the people and the government of Turkiye during the recent standoff with India and the successful completion of Operation Bunyaan un Marsoos. Turkiye and Pakistan have a long history of trade relations, especially in the leather sector, with Turkish manufacturers of chemicals, tanning machinery, domestic raw materials, double-face and shearling leathers exporting their products to manufacturers in Pakistan. At the same time, finished and semi-finished leathers as well as value-added products like leather garments, leather gloves, and footwear are being exported to Turkiye as well. Both sides stressed the need to enhance mutual trade between the two countries by exploring each other's markets and establishing frequent contacts via visits of trade delegations. Such visits should open up the possibilities of joint ventures in the near future. Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
