Production rises but sector loses its sole
While Pakistan’s overall production of shoes and shoe leather is improving, different sectors of the industry are facing less than positive prospects.
According to the latest figures available from the Federal Bureau of Statistics, upper leather production improved 2.3% in November to reach 1.689 million m2, up from 1.651 million m2 in November 2006, however, in contrast, sole leather output fell a staggering 23.08% to a mere 10 tons, down from 13 tons.
This trend continues in respect to the total year-to-date figures, too. While upper leather production increased 8.8% in the first five months of the fiscal year (July-November 2007) to reach 8.572 million m2, sole leather production declined 12.73 % to 48 tons, down from 55 tons.
On a more positive note, footwear production increased 3.55% in November to reach 2.101 million pairs of footwear while year-to-date production also improved 3.55% to reach 10.531 million pairs, up from 9.608 million in the same prior-year period.
