Official sources told Business Recorder on Wednesday that the industrial zone for tanneries in Sialkot would be developed on 300 acres land at a cost of Rs 781.4 million.
The work on Multan tanneries zone would be taken up after completion of feasibility report.
The proposed zones would be fully equipped with common treatment plant for controlling effluent and solid waste of tanneries.
At present, in and around Sialkot, 248 tanneries of different sizes are functioning, of which nine are large, 79 are of medium size and 160 are of small size.
The present ill-planned tanneries around Sialkot are a serious threat to human life are and gradually degrading the environmental conditions.
The provincial government is determined and has focused its attention on industrial pollution.
For this purpose it introduced 'Self-Monitoring and Reporting Tool' (Smart) programme in industrial units for self-monitoring and self-evaluation of pollution.
The measures have been adopted to enable the business community to fulfil the demand and requirements of World Trade Organisation (WTO) regime, which is fast approaching.
The leather and leather based industries are key export-oriented sector fetching more than $ 600 million annually.
The setting up of tanneries zone would be helpful in reducing the pollution load caused by the ill-planned tanneries, sources added.