The Netherlands’ minister for development cooperation, Mrs Agnes van Ardenne, along with the Netherlands’ ambassador, Marcel Kunpershoek and other members of her delegation, paid a visit to the combined effluent treatment plant (CEPT) for Korangi tanneries in Karachi to see its progress. She expressed satisfaction over the progress in its construction. The government of the Netherlands, through Royal Netherlands Embassy, Islamabad, is contributing about 8% in the capital cost of the CETP for the Korangi tanneries. It is expected that the plant will be commissioned by June 2005.
The Netherlands government has increased its contribution from Rs60 million rupees to Rs120 million. She expressed the hope that with the completion of the effluent plant, Pakistan would be able to export better leather and reduce the cost of production.