Initial development work on the mega project of Sialkot Tanneries Zone has been initiated and 392 acres of land has been acquired at a cost of Rs 406 million for the purpose. The basic concept of setting up STZ is to shift around 276 existing tanneries presently functioning in 10 clusters around the Sialkot City and cope with the environmental issues caused by the ill-planed establishment.
Sources in Sialkot Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCI) told Business Recorder, here on Sunday, that the tanneries functioning in and close to Sialkot, engaged in the processing of finished leather and 'wet blue' hides, are resulting in the degradation of environment through air, noise and water pollution. The STZ will accommodate shifting of existing units involved in stitching of leather garments and other leather-related products. They informed that the topographical and geo-technical survey in the project has already been conducted and 50 percent of the boundary constructed, adding that development of road infrastructure would be undertaken by the end of this year. Moreover, master planning of STZ, after incorporating suggestions from Unido consultant, has been completed, they added.
The mega project would help in shifting of tanneries located in and around the city to a centralised location to provide various facilities like common effluent treatment plant, solid waste disposal site and common collection system. It would also help in effective control of environmental hazards caused by the tanning industry in the area. The project is an immensely important one for the leather industry and would be instrumental in the growth of this sector and promotion of leather products' exports, besides ensuring a pollution-free city.
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