Karachi, The Salt Manufacturers Association Pakistan (SMAP) issued a statement expressing support for the newly elected government and highlighting critical issues facing the salt industry. SMAP's Chairman, Qasim Yaqoob Paracha, emphasized the sector's economic significance and the obstacles it has encountered, particularly emphasizing the detrimental effects of the ongoing trade ban with India and the high taxation on imported salt materials.

According to Salt Manufacturers Association of Pakistan, these challenges have severely affected the salt industry, leading to reduced revenues, disrupted trade routes, and diminished profitability. The association pointed out that the trade ban with India is particularly damaging, stalling potential revenue streams and affecting the industry's stability. Additionally, the high taxes imposed on salt materials imported from other countries have inflated production costs, undermining Pakistani salt manufacturers' competitiveness on a global scale.

Mr. Paracha elaborated on the industry's difficulties, stressing the necessity for the government's immediate intervention. He advocated for lifting the trade ban with India and reducing import taxes on salt materials as critical steps toward revitalizing the sector. Such measures, he argued, would not only boost the salt trade but also stimulate economic growth and create employment opportunities in Pakistan.

SMAP conveyed its readiness to engage with the government to tackle these issues collaboratively. The association expressed its eagerness for the government to undertake decisive actions and policy adjustments that would address the industry's challenges, foster economic development, and benefit all stakeholders within the salt trade.

In closing, SMAP underscored its commitment to supporting initiatives that aim to enhance the salt industry and its contribution to Pakistan's economy, eagerly awaiting the government's responsive strategies to transform the sector's landscape.