The industry representatives have demanded of the Karachi Water and Sewerage Board (KWSB) to execute the Rs38.4 million water pipeline project for Korangi’s Tannery Zone.
In a joint statement issued Tuesday, Patron In-Chief Korangi Association of Trade and Industry (KATI), S M Muneer, President All Karachi Industrial Alliance Mian Zahid Hussain, Chairman Pakistan Tanners Association (SZ) M Khurshid Ahmed and Vice Chairman, Fawad Javed while appreciating Governor Sindh Dr Ishratul Ebad Khan’s special allocation of funds for the exclusive project of water pipeline to the tannery zone for supply of five million gallons per day, asked the KWSB Managing Director to order the contractor to execute the work without further delay as the project which was approved by the Governor Sindh on urgent basis is being delayed inordinately by the KWSB staff and the contractor.
They said that a delegation led by S M Muneer along with PTA Chief Khurshid Ahmed met with Governor Sindh a couple of months ago for release of funds and the Governor has very kindly released the funds required for the project and the KWSB has already received the full amount for the project for over two months.
They however said that KWSB is yet to start the laying of pipeline whereas the export oriented leather industry is suffering badly due to drought like situation in Tannery Zone. They said that water supply has remained suspended for the last few years and now the sub soil water too is not available in the area.
Munir said that the second largest foreign exchange earning export industry is suffering badly due to the non-supply of water by KWSB despite the fact that waters is the lifeline of tanning and leather industry. Over billion dollar leather industry is dying due to the want of water and even the wells supplying sub soil water are drying up fast, PTA Chairman Khurshid warned.
He said that Governor Sindh had instructed the KWSB MD to lay out a separate pipeline for 5 MGD water to the Tannery Zone so that the dying industry might survive from total collapse. He further asked the Commissioner Karachi to order ZMC east to immediately remove solid waste being piled up in the area due to suspension of municipal work in Tannery Zone since the abolition of city government.
