Our Staff Reporter KARACHI - Pakistan Tanners Association (PTA) on Thursday demanded of the government to impose ban on the export of live animals and keeps an eye on smuggling of livestock. Chairman PTA, Aziz Ahmed asked the government to exercise immediate check on smuggling of animals, especially to Iran and Afghanistan. This was stated in a press conference held at Karachi Press Club. Aziz informed that It is feared that there will be acute shortage of hides and skins in the coming years as million of domestic animals were taken away by devastating floods and millions of saved animals are suffering from starvation in flood-affected areas. He said if the government failed to impose ban on export of live animals, the leather sector would suffer further losses as currently the export of leather and leather products was already on decline. He added that over 24 milliion animals were smuggled to other countries, especially to Iran and Afghanistan. Chairman Pakistan Leather Garments Danish khan elaborate that the shortage of skins and hides and high cost of doing business have bad impact on export of leather products. Due to lack of product diversification, Pakistan has lost its market share while India, Bangladesh and China have benefited from this.