Despite world-wide recession Pakistan’s leather industry registered an increase of 21% during the financial year 2007-08. Exports valued at $1.25 billion were recorded, slightly better than government projections for $1.13 billion. Pakistan is planning to capture 5% of the global market in the next 10 years.
The increase in exports can be attributed to factors as the advancement in technology, investment in Hi-Tech machinery and improved livestock in the country.
With the help of universities and industry resources the cause of damage to raw hides and skins has been identified and the government is striving hard to eliminate these shortcomings at farm level.
Due to the demand of Halal Food the demand for Pakistani Beef and Meat has increased in the Middle East resulting in the establishment of modern slaughter houses all over the country.
Under top level hygienic conditions the animals are slaughtered in these newly established abattoirs and large quantities are being exported to U.A.E, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Bahrain and other countries. With recent findings in Europe that slaughtered animals with maximum blood drain are more hygienic than those carrying leftover blood in the veins of slaughtered animals the demand of Hilal meat has increased.
This has opened further opportunities and we see more abattoirs in future.
The second major reason for the increase in exports can be attributed to the establishment of combined and individual waste treatment plants. In the World Bank’s final report of Pakistan’s Environmental Assessment it stated:
“The leather industry represented by the Pakistan Tanners Association (PTA) has demonstrated tremendous commitment and farsightedness by initiating a number of cleaner production technologies program in Punjab and Sindh. The strong commitment is gauged from the fact that in spite of a weak enforcement climate individual tanneries and the PTA have initiated at least five major projects with technical assistance of Royal Netherlands embassy in Pakistan. “
Huge combined treatment plants were established in the tannery zones of Karachi and Kasur and the most modern tannery zone at 384 acres have been announced at Sialkot. A provision for combined treatment plant has been kept in this tannery zone also.
Almost all large tanneries have in-house effluent treatment plants and medium level tanneries have set up primary treatment plants. There are few tanneries working on the concept of Carbon Credit and Zero discharge. Some leading chain stores in Europe and the US have played vital role in educating the tanners about environmental issues and the concept of carbon credits.
The present production profile of the country is as follows:
