The Global Environment Facility (gef) will provide US $ two million for transforming the leather processing industries towards low emissions and climate resilient development paths project for Korangi Industrial Area, Karachi. This was disclosed by Ivan Kral, Industrial Development Officer, Department of Agri Business Development of United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) in a workshop organized by Pakistan Tanners Association (Southern Zone) Environmental Society, earlier this week.

Ms. Nadia Aftab, country representative of UNIDO; Mr. Manzoor Hussain Wassan, Provincial Minister, Industries & Commerce Department, Govt. of Sindh; Gulzar Firoz, President, PTA (S.Z) Environmental Society and other experts addressed the workshop.

According to Mr. Ivan Kral, identification and preparation of project concept has been approved and detailed project / documents preparation would be done by March, 2018 followed by approaching for co-funding of the project to concerned stakeholders.

The project is aimed to control emission of green house gases, introduction of low carbon technology, goal to improve and increase exportability of leather industry etc.

On the occasion, Sindh Minister Mr. Manzoor Hussain Wassan, has announced setting up effluent treatment plant in all industrial zones in Karachi at a cost of over PKR 11 billion.

Mr.Gulzar Firoz in his presentation has highlighted efforts being made by PTA to make Korangi Industrial Area a pollution free estate, where more than 200 tanneries are located. He requested UNIDO to include improvement in Conveyance System over 12 kms to bring the tannery effluent from the individual tannery to the main CETP, collection of solid waste and sludge and their proper dumping outside of Karachi in their project.

It may be mentioned here that PTA (S.Z) Environmental Society has set up a Combined Effluent Treatment Plant (CETP) for Korangi Tannery Cluster in Korangi Industrial Area (KIA), Karachi. It is a state-of-the-art-project being the first of its kind in Pakistan in terms of its nature, ownership, capacity and technology. The CETP has a capacity to treat a total of 42,000 Cubic Meters per day of wastewater which includes 16,500 cubic meters per day tannery wastewater and 26,000 cubic meters per day of domestic wastewater. The objective of the CETP is to benefit tanning community at Korangi Cluster, general public, marine life as well as to meet National Environmental Quality Standards (NEQS) which is a mandatory requirement of the foreign buyers.

Photo caption : Mr. Manzoor Hussain Wassan, Provincial Minister for Industries & Commerce, Govt. of Sindh addressing in the UNIDO Consultative Workshop on Transforming the Leather Processing Industries towards Low Emission and Climate Resilient Development Paths at Pearl Continental Hotel, with Mr. Ivan Kral, Programme Manager, UNIDO, Ms Nadia Aftab, Country Representative & Mr. Gulzar Firoz, President, PTA (S.Z) Environmental Society.