Tuesday, 11th SEP, 2018 –Sialkot: Sialkot Tannery Association (G) Ltd in association with UNIDO-GEF has successfully organized a workshop on “Combined Effluent Treatment Plant for Sialkot Tannery Zone Projectâ€.
Mr. Waseem Ahsan Cheema, Director Environment Protection Department, Govt. of Punjab, President Sialkot Chamber, Chairman & CEO STAGL, Leather community, civil society Govt. Officials and PhD doctors along with BS final year students of Departments of Environmental Sciences and Chemistry from C Women University Sialkot attended the workshop.
Officially opening the workshop, Mr. Sarfraz Bhatti, Chairman STAGL, applauded the initiative taken by UNIDO-GEF in promoting the mitigation strategy for Climate Change. He also highlighted the collaboration between Tannery Zone and Sialkot Chamber for spearheading the development of leather sector of Pakistan. Mr. Ahtesham Gillani, CEO STAGL appreciated the personal interest taken by EPD Punjab for supporting project activities in realizing the common objectives of leather sector development.
The Chief Guest Mr. Waseem Ahsan Cheema appreciated the theme of workshop and stressed all members to relocate in newly established tannery zone with world class effluent treatment facility, he promised to support Tannery Zone Project with full zeal.
The purpose of this awareness workshop was to help tanners, tannery managers and other direct/indirect stakeholders to get acquainted with basic principles and methods of tannery effluent treatment and to describe that the design of an effluent treatment plant (ETP) is always tailored to the requirements of a specific site.
During the said Workshop the consultant NEC from Karachi presented detailed process design to all stakeholders at Sialkot Chamber of Commerce & Industry (SCCI) on developing better understanding of CETP including modular approach with expected pollution load and operating cost. The main objective of the workshop was to share the updated status of CETP and process efficiency of the plant. The proposed CETP plant is the first plant in Pakistan for leather sector having separate Sulphide Oxidation as Primary treatment and utilization of heavy metal for Sludge for Agriculture which will help the tanners in LWG (Leather Working Group) compliance and boost leather export for Pakistan.
Mr. Shujauddin Siddiqui, Leather expert elaborated chromium management in tanneries which causes environmental pollution and presented the ways by which Effluent of chrome is re-useable.
The workshop also provided a platform for discussing problems, new ideas, and concepts relating to treatment plant. The workshop facilitated in building local capacity with regard to understanding of CETP, its functions and would provide a platform for collection of information on making final comments and identification of gaps if would be any. Furthermore, the confidence of stakeholders will be enhanced that project is progressing towards its final destination.
The whole workshop was managed by the Internees from GC Women Universiry Sialkot’s students of Environmental Sciences. CEO Tannery Zone appreciated the important role of industry academia linkages through which an effective R&D can be established for producing world class products for the International Markets. He also appreciated the role of ORIC for bringing learned and motivated workforce to the door steps of STAGL.
The participants actively participated in the event and raised several pertinent technical questions. In brief, the session identified the potential areas of awareness about climate change mitigation with clear indication of needed sector specific intervention.
