SIALKOT, Aug 25: The Punjab government has finally sanctioned a Rs90 million grant for the construction of Sialkot tannery zone near Sambrial. This was disclosed by Sialkot Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCI) president Tahir Majeed Kapur while talking to newsmen here on Wednesday.

He said the approval was given by the provincial government at a special meeting held in Lahore which was presided over by the Planning and Development chairman. The project would be completed with the active collaboration of the Sialkot business community.

The SCCI chief further said that the construction of tannery zone would be helpful in shifting over 260 tanneries scattered in Sialkot and its outskirts. Mr Kapur said the provincial government had also approved a special grant of Rs680 million for converting the Sialkot-Sambrial-Wazirabad Road into a dual carriageway. He said that the construction work on these projects would be started soon by the departments concerned.

EXPORTERS: Local exporters have constituted a 'democratic founders group' at Sialkot Chamber of Commerce and Industry for pressing the SCCI management to conduct the chamber's annual elections by giving up the tradition of nominations.

Speaking at a press conference here on Wednesday at a local hotel, DFG President Suhail Khawar Mir alleged that the chamber had been hijacked by some monopolists for the last several years as these elements promoted the tradition of making nominations for SCCI office-bearers instead of conducting the annual polls in a democratic way.

The group expressed its dissatisfaction over the committees formed by the SCCI management for the scrutiny of voters and nomination papers of the candidates.