Plan initiated to combat tanneries pollution

A multidimensional plan has been initiated aimed at combating with the threats of pollution caused by the setting up of ill-planned tanneries in and around Sialkot.
The programme is successfully in progress as a result of which over 40 percent pollution load had been reduced in tanneries functioning in the area by opting cleaner production technologies as well as introducing in house cleaner production techniques.
The official sources told Business Recorder on Sunday here that "Chrome Recovery" plant with the active financial support and technical assistance of Norwegian government had also been set up at Sambrial-Wazirabad road.
The step had been taken for the recovery of chrome from tanneries and for its reuse in tanning process, the sources said, adding that system was highly supportive in combating with pollution caused by the chrome used in tanning process.
The Cleaner Production Centre (CPC) had been set up with the co-funding of Export Promotion Bureau and the government of Norway under the management of Pakistan Gloves Manufacturers and Exporters Association.
The CPC is functioning successfully and helping leather sector especially leather and leather made-ups manufacturers of Sialkot to overcome the environmental problems.
The Sialkot-based leather industry 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 were related to leather manufacturing, leather garment, gloves and other leather made products.
The objectives of 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 to keep running the tanning business.
The main task of CPC is to extend help to the Sialkot leather sector especially small and medium leather manufacturing units to create a suitable working environment enabling the industry to work for achieving NEQS, which are achievable through in-house improvements and introduction of pollution prevention techniques, good house keeping and occupational health and safety practices.