A multi-dimensional programme has been initiated to combat intensive threats of pollution caused by the establishment of ill-planned tanneries in and around the industrial city of Sialkot. Under the programme, 40 percent pollution load had been controlled in tanneries functioning in the area by opting cleaner production technologies as well as introducing in house cleaner production techniques.
The 'Chrome Recovery' plant with the active financial support and technical assistance of Norway 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. This system would be supportive in combating pollution caused by the chrome used in tanning process in tanneries.
The Cleaner Production Centre (CPC), set up with the co-funding of Export Promotion Bureau (EPB) and government of Norway under the management of Pakistan Gloves Manufacturers and Exporters Association (Pgmea) is functioning successfully and helping leather sector to overcome the environmental problems.
The Sialkot-based leather industry has gained momentum in past couple of decades and more than 500 leather and leather products manufacturing units are functioning in the area, of which most of the units were related to leather manufacturing, leather garments, gloves and other leather products.
The major objectives of CPC are to reduce the pollution, 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 is necessarily required to escape severe degradation of environment for attaining the National Environmental Quality Standard (NEQS) and to keep running the tanning business.
The main task of cleaner production centre is to extend help the leather sector of Sialkot, especially small and medium leather manufacturing units in creating suitable working environment enabling the industry to work for achieving NEQS, which are achievable through in-house improvements.
The CPC was providing guidance to individual tanners on cleaner production practices through the improvement of 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, the sources added. It is unfortunate that at present the Pgmea was confronting with serious problems because of non-availability of funds for running the CPC and Leather Products Development Institute (LPDI).