A multi-dimensional programme has been initiated aimed at fighting against threats of pollution caused by the establishment of ill-planned tanneries in and around Sialkot.
Official sources told Business Recorder here on Sunday that under the programme a Chrome Recovery plant with the active financial support and technical assistance of the Norwegian government has been set up at Sambrial-Wazirabad Road.
They said steps had been taken for the recovery of chrome from different tanneries and for re-using in tanning process, and this system would be supportive in combating against pollution caused by the chrome used in tanning process in tanneries.
Sources said that opting cleaner production technologies has controlled 40 percent pollution in tanneries of Sialkot.
The Cleaner Production Centre (CPC) has already been established at Sialkot with the co-funding by the Export Promotion Bureau and the government of Norway under the management of the Pakistan Gloves Manufacturers and Exporters Association to help leather sector especially leather and leather made-ups manufacturers of Sialkot to overcome the environmental problems.
The Norwegian government had provided 12.5 million krone as grant, while the federal government has provided Rs 23.3 million for the completion of Cleaner Production Centre (CPC) in Sialkot.
The leather and leather-based industries represent one of the key export-oriented sectors fetching more than $600 million annually.
The development of leather industry on modern lines is most imperative not only for its survival, but also for the socio-economic development of the country.
The Sialkot-based leather industry has gained momentum in past couple of decades and more than 500 leather and leather products manufacturing units are working in the area. Of which most of the units related to leather and engaged in manufacturing leather, leather garments, gloves and other leather products.
The major objectives of Cleaner Production Centre (CPC) are to reduce the pollution at source, conserve natural resources, and environment, and introduce cleaner production strategies in the industry that are environmentally sound and economically sustainable.
The adoption of cleaner production techniques are necessarily required to escape from severe degradation of environment for attaining the National Environmental Quality Standard (NEQS) and keep running the tanning business.
The main task of Cleaner Production Centre is to extend help to the leather sector of Sialkot especially small and medium leather manufacturing units to create a conducive working environment enabling the industry to work for achieving National Environment Quality Standard (NEQS), which are achievable through in-house improvements and introduction of pollution prevention techniques, good house keeping and occupational health and safety practices.
One of the important components of cleaner production centre is to provide guidance to individual tanners on cleaner production practices through the improvement in tanning process, creating awareness about hazardous chemicals and minimising of waste at source.
In order to ensure social compliance essentially demanded by foreign buyers under WTO the studies on child labour and gender issues in leather industry have also been undertaken under the project, sources added.
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