An industrial zone for tanneries would be developed soon in Sialkot and for this purpose, necessary arrangements were being finalised. The proposed industrial zone for tanneries would be developed over 300 acres of land. Official sources Business Recorder here on Sunday that the main objective of establishing industrial zone for tanneries was to shift all existing tanneries into the zone for reducing pollution.
The proposed zone would be fully equipped with common treatment plant for controlling effluent and solid waste of tanneries.
At present, they said, as many as 248 tanneries of different sizes are functioning in and close to Sialkot of which nine large, 79 medium and 160 small-sized tanneries are functioning in the area.
Sources said the Punjab government has taken the step to cope with the pollution threats caused by the ill-planned establishment of tanneries in and close to Sialkot are posing serious threats to human life and gradually degrading the environmental conditions.
The present government had focused its attention to coping with the constant threats of industrial pollution in the Punjab, they said, adding for this purpose, the government had already introduced 'Self Monitoring and Reporting Tool' (Smart) programme in the industrial units for self-monitoring and self-evaluation of pollution in the province.
These measures have been adapted to enabling the business community to fulfil the demands and requirements of the World Trade Organisation (WTO) regime and other global challenges more easily, said the sources.
They said the regular functioning of industrial zone for tanneries would not help in reducing pollution load in tanneries cluster area but also improve the degraded environmental condition caused by the tanneries.
Apart from this inhabitants living in tanneries cluster area would be benefited directly as well as help protect agricultural land, sub-soil water from contamination and save the marine life, they added.
Sources said the Sialkot-based leather industry has gained momentum in the past couple of decades, and more than 500 leather and leather products manufacturing units were working in and close to Sialkot and earning huge foreign exchange for the country.