Chairman Tanners Association (SZ), Fawad Jawed has sought intervention of the Governor Sindh, Dr Eshratul Ebad Khan and urged him to direct Karachi Water and Sewerage Board (KWSB) to connect 5 MGD water pipeline with Water Trunk Main at Chamra Roundabout and release water into the mains so that the water-intensive exporting leather industry may survive from total collapse.
In a SOS massage to the Governor, he said the tannery zone in Korangi industrial area (KIA) is not getting water from KWSB for over a decade and the only source of water is from underground wells that are drying up fast. The pipeline has been laid for over a year ago but the water is yet to be released into the pipeline due to which the pipeline has started rusting.
He further stated that now the industrial estate faces a drought like situation. KWSB continues to deny supply of water to the biggest national cluster of leather and its made-ups, which contributes to over 35% of total exports of national leather industry. The huge funds given to the KWSB by the Governor Sindh from his special funds for this project appears to have been wasted since KWSB despite laying two-kilometer-long 12 inches’ diameter pipeline from tannery zone to Chamra Roundabout. According to PTA the pipeline is yet to be connected with Water Trunk Main at Chamra Roundabout. PTA has demanded that KWSB must be asked to become accountable for wastage of precious, scarce national resources.
As the water crisis in tannery zone has worsened, Fawad Jawed earnestly appealed to the Governor Sindh and Minister for Local Government, Sharjeel Memon to come to the rescue as leather and leather goods industry without further delay in order to save over a billion dollar industry of Karachi.
