Sialkot Tannery Zone team visits TDAP

LAHORE: A two-member delegation of the Sialkot Tannery Zone project visited the Trade Development Authority of Pakistan (TDAP) on Wednesday and highlighted restrains of the leather industry.

Sialkot Tannery Zone Chief Executive Officer Syed Ahtesham Mazhar appraised about the ongoing development activities of the project. He further informed that the tanning industry was considered one of the most polluting industries and during the tanning process, more than 85 percent of the chemicals and the entire quantity of water were not taken up by the leather and this quantity was discharged to the waste water streams.

Meeting environmental compliance standards has always been challenging for tanners as they produce waste, he said, and added, “Sialkot Tannery Zone vision is to become a world class estate which may attract international companies.”

Mazhar said their objective was to centralise tanning activities to reduce environmental degradation.

TDAP Director General Mian Riaz Ahmed appreciated the vision of Sialkt Tannery Zone and expressed the hope that the objectives would be achieved in true spirit.

He also informed the delegates that all efforts were underway to boost the trade sector of the country. “The government is working on a policy to address the trade-related issues of the exporters to help increase the pace of economic development,” he added.

The delegates thanked the TDAP DG for listening to their issues and for assuring to address their concerns.