Usman Ahmed elected PSMA chairman

By Gul Nasreen

(Pakistan News & Features Services)

Usman Ahmed of Gamalux Oleochemicals Limited, Karachi, has been elected as the chairman of the Pakistan Soap Manufacturers Association (PSMA) while Abdullah Zaki of Zaki Industrial Corporation, Karachi, and Muhammad Aneeq of Yaqub Soap Factory (Pvt.) Ltd, Multan, have been elected as its Senior Vice Chairman and as Vice Chairman respectively. 

According to the information made avalable by the Association’s Secretary General, Syed Aijaz Ahmed, on September 21, the elections of the PSMA were held in accordance with the Trade Organization Rules 2013, as a result of which a new team of office-bearers and Managing Committee members has assumed charge for the next term of two years (2026-2028). 

The newly elected unopposed members of the Managing Committee for the term of 2026-2028 are M. Aneeq, Yaqub Soap Factory (Pvt.) Limited, Multan, Syed Shiblee Abdullah, ZIL Limited, Karachi, Sh. M. Ilyas Khurshid Soap & Chemicals Industries (Pvt.) Ltd., Hattar, Usman Ahmed, Gamalux Oleochemicals Limited, Karachi, M. Ali Zia, Mukhtar Soap & Oleo Chemicals, Karachi, Abdullah Zaki, Zaki Industrial Corporation, Karachi, Raza Naseem, Fine Daily (Pvt.) Limited, Karachi, Mian M. Adrees, Sitara Chemical Industries Limited, Faisalabad, Abdul Samad Punjani, S. S. Detergents Industries, Hyderabad, Tariq Amin Safdar, Pears (Pvt.) Limited, Karachi, M. Ahmad Yasin, Nawab & Sons, Faisalabad, and Wasim Ahmed, Daily Chemicals (SMC-Pvt) Limited, Multan.

Tariq Zakaria urges duty cuts to overcome LABSA shortage

By Gul Nasreen 

(Pakistan News & Features Services)

The Vice Chairman of Pakistan Soap Manufacturers Association (PSMA), Tariq Zakaria, has pointed out that detergent, soaps and allied products manufacturing industry was facing an acute scarcity of Linear Alkyl Benzene Sulphonic Acid (LABSA) HS Code 3402.3100. 

“LABSA is a key raw material used in the production of detergents, dishwashing liquids, soaps, and other cleaning products. The shortage has significantly disrupted production and increased manufacturing costs, particularly for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs),” he observed in a press release. 

“The custom duty of this raw material is 10% besides sales tax 18%, income tax 5.5% and regulatory duty of 4% while for commercial importers an additional sales tax of 3% and income tax is 6% are imposed. The government must consider and accommodate commercial importers to serve the national companies by importing sulphonic acid,” he appealed. 

Tariq Zakaria regretted that the national manufacturers of LABSA were currently unable to produce sufficient quantities to meet the growing demand of the domestic industry due to shortages of the required raw materials, as a result of which many manufacturers were operating below capacity, while others were struggling to continue production. 

“Industry representatives have urged the Government of Pakistan to take immediate measures to address this critical situation by abolishing the anti-dumping duty and regulatory duty on the import of LABSA. Removing these duties would reduce production costs, stabilize the supply chain & help manufacturers continue producing essential household cleaning products at affordable prices,” he reckoned. 

“The industry has also requested the Government to allow commercial importers to import LABSA and supply it to local manufacturers producing detergents, dishwashing products, and other finished cleaning products. This step would help overcome the current shortage and ensure uninterrupted industrial production,” the PSMA Vice President added. 

“Furthermore, industry representatives have emphasized that existing policies and incentives largely benefit multinational companies, while Pakistan's small & medium enterprises receive limited support despite playing a vital role in employment generation and industrial growth,” he concluded.