Pakistan Tanners Association (PTA) in an SOS sent to Sindh Governor Dr Ishratul Ebad Khan has urged him to direct Karachi Water and Sewerage Board (KWSB) to immediate supply water to the tannery zone in Korangi Industrial Area. In a communication, Chairman PTA (S.Z), M. Khurshid Ahmed said as the zone was now facing perpetual drought, the second largest export industry has been threatened.
Ahmed said most of the wells in the area which were major source of water to the industries have now been dried up and there is no water available to the industries. "A drought like situation prevails in the leather industry in Korangi and KWSB has remained unmoved despite all persuasions and reminders," he added. He said that water supply from KWSB had remained suspended for several years and it had failed in supplying water to the Tannery Zone located in Sector 7-A of Korangi Industrial Area, which houses the biggest national cluster of leather tanning and leather made up units.
He regretted that despite repeated meetings of PTA with KWSB MDs and other high officials during the past decade for regular supply of water, the tannery zone continues to face a drought like situation. "The tanneries are being constrained to resort to supply of water through private water tankers which is so expensive and results in increasing production cost and render its exports uncompetitive," he added.
He pointed out the water being consumed today is coming out of boring wells that remains untreated and quite hard and spoils the quality of leather being processed from one of the finest skins of Pakistani livestock. "In fact only soft and clean water is required for producing high quality leather for exports which enables the exporters to fetch at least 15 to 20 percent better prices internationally," he added.
He also requested the high officials of KWSB to take up the long awaited project very seriously while consulting the PTA and arrange a regular and uninterrupted supply of clean water to the Tannery Zone which pays hundreds of millions of rupees to the federal and provincial governments in form of duties, taxes and other levies.