Initial development work on mega project of Sialkot Tanneries Zone (STZ) has been initiated and the zone would be developed on 392 acres of land at a cost of Rs 406 million. The basic concept of setting up STZ was to shift around 276 existing tanneries presently functioning in ten clusters around Sialkot city into STZ and to cope with the environmental issues caused by the ill-planed establishment of tanneries.
Sources in Sialkot Chamber of Commerce and Industry told Business Recorder on Wednesday that the tanneries functioning in and close of Sialkot engaged in processing of finished leather and "Wet Blue" hides and these tanneries are resulting in degradation of environment through air, noise and water pollution.
With the completion of the project all tanneries functioning in and closed to Sialkot would be shifted into the zone besides it will also accommodate shifting of existing units involved in stitching of leather garments and other leather related products. The topographical and geotechnical survey had already been accomplished and fifty percent of the boundary wall has been constructed and development of road infrastructure would be undertaken by the end of this year.