SIALKOT, Jan 6: The business community has warmly welcomed the government's decision of giving 25 per cent sea and air freight subsidy on leather garments export consignments from Jan 1, 2005 to Dec 31, 2005.

Talking to reporters here on Thursday, PRGMEA central chairman Ijaz A Khokhar, SCCI office bearers, the PLGMEA Sialkot zone chairman, PSGMEA chairman Muhammad Younas Ratra and Sima chairman Bilal Hyder Agha said the decision would help enhance leather garments export and boost the national economy as well.

They said the Export Development Fund (EDF) had also given final approval for installing of the computerized patron making machines in the PLGMEA offices in Karachi and Sialkot.

Besides, they said the two computerized embroidery machines would also be installed in PLGMEA's Karachi and Sialkot offices with the collaboration of the business community.

They claimed that Pakistan's leather garments industry would soon catch up with the leather garments industries of the developed countries in quality and standard. PGMEA chairman Shaikh Abdul Waheed Sandal and PHMA chairman Sialkot region Arshad Javaid Sandal were also present on the occasion.