Pakistan is one of the largest producers and exporters of leather products in the world. The leather industry in Pakistan is one of the oldest and most established industries in the country, dating back to the 1940s. It is an important sector of the economy, contributing significantly to the country export earnings and providing employment opportunities to millions of people.
Pakistan leather industry is concentrated in the city of Karachi, which is home to a large number of tanneries, leather product manufacturers, and exporters. The industry is vertically integrated, with tanneries, leather goods manufacturers, and exporters all working together to produce and market a wide range of leather products.
The leather industry in Pakistan is known for its high-quality leather, which is exported to many countries around the world. The most significant markets for Pakistan leather products are Europe, the United States, and the Middle East. Pakistan leather exports include finished leather, leather garments, leather gloves, leather footwear, leather goods, and leather chemicals.
Despite its importance to the country economy, the leather industry in Pakistan faces a number of challenges, including environmental concerns, low productivity, and lack of modern technology. However, the government and private sector are working together to address these challenges and to promote the growth of the industry.
After textiles and vegetables, Pakistan leather industry, including value addition, ranks third in export revenue (sector as a whole). Over 800 tanneries in Pakistan are actively engaged in making the best quality finished leather from Cow, Buffalo, Sheep, and Goat skins. Thus, Pakistan is known as the center for producing high-grade leather and leather products.
Pakistan is rich in agricultural products and has a large livestock population which plays an important role in the economy of Pakistan by producing around 13.0 Million Hides and 47.4 Million Skins per annum (2022-23). The type of sheep skins we have in Pakistan is better in respect of grain, substance and compactness of fibers.
Pakistan is an Islamic republic democrat country having unofficial population count approx. 220 millions. All Muslims celebrate Eid–e-Qurban occasion once a year, when they slaughter/sacrifice minimum one of the animals from Cow, Buffalo, Goat and Sheep that day following the tradition of Prophet Ibrahim. Every Muslim has a yearning desire to sacrifice most beautiful and healthy animal on that day. Due to this collective sacrificial slaughtering of animals on such a large scale, massive amounts of animal hide are easily and readily available that tanneries can buy. About 60% - 80% of total raw material requirement is fulfilled every year this way.
A Quick Look on History
At the time of independence there were only a few tanneries producing sole leather and that too at a very small scale.
• In the early days of independence some tanneries were established in Karachi
• In 1950 some were established in Lahore and adjoining areas.
• The 1960 saw the installation of more units in other parts of the country like Multan, Sahiwal, Kasur, Gujranwala and Sialkot. These units were well-equipped with the latest and modern facilities. More advanced units were established in the 1970 and Pakistan started production of finished leather.
• The era of 1980 saw a period of improved quality production.
• In 1990 the leather sector jumped to become the second largest foreign exchange earner for the country by contributing 10.41 percent toward the total export revenue.
• During July-November 2015-16, the leather exports of Pakistan faced a decline of 27 percent while India, which exported 43 percent more leather garments, witnessed 27 percent increase in its leather exports during the same period.
Cities of Pakistan Famous for Leather Production
Even though there are factories that make leather all over Pakistan, including in Kasur, Lahore, and Multan, over 90% of goods and clothing are produced in Karachi and Sialkot. Very few of these leather goods are marketed in the local market; almost all are exported. In Pakistan, there are more than 2500 tanneries, both registered and unregistered. The major cities with developed leather industries include Sialkot, Karachi, Kasur, Gujranwala, Multan, Lahore, Faisalabad, Sahiwal, Hyderabad, and Peshawar. In the country, there are 784 leather units, 461 leather garment manufacturing units, 348 glove units, and more than 524 footwear units.
Areas No. of Leather Industries
Sialkot 53
Karachi 44
Lahore 9
Others 5
The typical sources of raw materials for leather production are the cow, buffalo, goats, and sheep. Firstly, the tanning procedure includes a preparatory stage (Soaking, Liming, De-fleshing, De liming, Bating, and Pickling). Following the preparatory stage, the tanning stage begins, and many tanning techniques are typically used, including (Vegetable tanning, Aldehyde tanning, Synthetic tanning, and Chrome tanning). Then, post-tanning procedures include slamming, splitting, skiving, and neutralizing, dyeing, greasing, drying, and finishing come after the tanning stage. Finally, colors are applied to the leather surface to cover any scars or damage.
Pakistan Raw Leather & Leather Apparel Exporting Countries
Pakistan was the fourth-largest exporter of leather apparel in the world in 2020 with $588M in exports. Meanwhile, in the same year, leather apparel was Pakistan ninth-most-exported good. United States ($117M), Germany ($101M), Canada ($37.2M), Poland ($35M), and the United Kingdom ($26.9M) is Pakistan top export markets for leather clothing. Moreover, Pakistan receives its raw skin and hides from China, Kenya, Sudan, Saudi Arabia, and Tanzania. As a whole, major countries importing leather goods from Pakistan include Italy, Germany, France, the United States, Portugal, Singapore, the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, Japan, Belgium, Spain, Korea, the Netherlands, Norway, Sweden, Mexico, Chile, Poland, Russia, Denmark, and South Africa.
