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SIALKOT, Apr 10 (APP):Director General (DG) Environment Punjab Imran Hamid Sheikh has said that the Sialkot Tannery Zone (STZ) is in the final stages of its completion, and the cooperation of the Sialkot Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCI) is indispensable for shifting all tanneries to this zone by end of this year.
He stated this while presiding over a meeting at the SCCI. President SCCI Ikram-ul-Haq, Director Admin Environment Protection Agency Waseem Ahmed Cheema and Deputy Director Environment Department Sialkot Dr. Muhammad Owais were also present on this occasion.
DG Environment Punjab Imran Hamid Sheikh said that 396 acres of land have been allocated for the Sialkot Tannery Zone (STZ), where all development works are in the final stages of completion.
DG Environment Punjab said that initially, arrangements for supplying 2.5 to 5 megawatts of electricity to the STZ by Gujranwala Electric Power Company (GEPCO) have been completed, while work is also underway on a separate grid station of 21 megawatts, which is 55 percent complete.
He said that the current government of Punjab has taken urgent steps to address the environmental challenge and the Chief Minister of Punjab is personally monitoring all these steps.
DG Environment Punjab said that Pakistan is currently facing the most severe climate change and according to the Meteorological Department, due to 42 percent less rainfall last year, the initial signs of drought have started and Cholistan, which plays an important role in providing livestock to the province, has entered the drought danger zone.
He said that along with the government, every individual and institution of the society will have to work together to deal with the challenge of the environment.
Imran Hamid Sheikh said that due to climate change, the seasons have intensified and the seasons change from hot to cold in an instant and the period of pleasant weather in between hot weather and cold weather has ended.
DG Environment Punjab said that winter used to be a season of fairs across the country and especially in Punjab because due to intense heat, people could not go out for sightseeing and entertainment and fairs used to be crowded with stalls in winter.
He said that Punjab is being badly affected due to smog, which is also spreading diseases and due to this, the winter season is becoming very painful.
Sialkot Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCI) assured full cooperation to DG Environment Punjab Imran Hamid Sheikh.