Vice president of the Pakistan Tanners Association Environmental Society and chief executive of Universal Leather, Shakil Ahmed told www.leatherbiz.com that the project had been delayed, in part, due to a hold up in the release of funds. However, he was eager to thank the Trade Development Authority (TDA), Ministry of Commerce, Government of Sindh and the Swedish Government for their financial support.

When completed, the CETP will be able to treat 42,000m³ of wastewater per day, including 16,500m³ of tannery wastewater and 26,000 m³ of domestic wastewater. It covers 15 acres of land and will serve approximately 170 tanneries in the Korangi tanneries cluster.

Mr Ahmed was optimistic about the future of Pakistan’s leather industry, predicting that it would achieve export revenues in excess of $1 billion in the 2006/07 financial year. He stressed that the decline in the exports of leather garments and the closure of certain factories was a temporary phase as changing fashion trends are expected to favour leather garments again this year.

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