Pakistan’s largest shoe manufacturer – Bata Pakistan has stated that although low-priced imported footwear from China is appearing in Pakistan’s domestic market, the threat posed by these imports is not increasing.
On releasing the company’s 2005 annual financial report, Jorge Carbajal, chairman of Bata Pakistan, said, The influx of low-priced Chinese footwear has continued, but does not appear to be escalating at the same pace due to rising costs in China as a result of high prices for oil-based raw materials and increasing labour costs. The zero rating for sales tax of leather and textile footwear after the June budget in Pakistan has had a positive effect in these categories of footwear, and it is hoped that government will continue this policy so as to assist the domestic manufacturing industry.”
