A multi-dimensional programme has been initiated aimed at combating intensive threats of pollution caused by the establishment of ill-planned tanneries in and around Sialkot.
Official sources told Business Recorder here on Wednesday that under the programme demonstrative 'chrome recovery' plant with the active financial support and technical assistance of the Norwegian government had been set up at Sambrial-Wazirabad Road.
The step had been taken for the recovery of chrome from tanneries and for its re-use in tanning process, they said, adding this system would be supportive in combating pollution caused by the chrome used in tanning process by the tanneries.
Sources said by adopting cleaner production technologies about 40 percent pollution load had been controlled in Sialkot tanneries, adding the Cleaner Production Centre (CPC) has already been established at Sialkot with the co-funding of the Export Promotion Bureau (EPB) and the government of Norway under the management of the Pakistan Gloves Manufacturers and Exporters Association (Pgmea) to help leather sector especially leather and leather made-ups manufacturers of Sialkot overcome the environmental problems.
The Norwegian government had provided 12.5 million kroner as grant, while the federal government has provided 23.3 million rupees for the completion of Cleaner Production Centre (CPC) here.
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 were related to leather manufacturing, leather garments, gloves, and other leather-made 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 the cleaner production centre is to extend help to the leather sector of Sialkot especially small and medium leather manufacturing units to create a suitable 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.
The cleaner production centre was providing 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.