Most of the tannery clusters in Punjab are located in close vicinity of agriculture lands. Tannery operations in such areas have high environmental implications and impacts on the natural resources and human health, in and around such localities. These impacts and ensuing implication construe criterion for prioritization in implementation of treatment facilities introduction of cleaner processing technologies and other environment related diffusing actions at both the local and provincial level.

The city of Kasur was selected as a case study on the basis of severity of environmental situation. The health and social welfare of several thousand people living in the unhygienic and environmentally deprived city of Kasur is at a critical stage. At the same time there was a need to increase the awareness about healthcare among the people living in Kasur and to provide a base for further research to deal with planning problems related with health assessment and management in this city.

The state of environment in Kasur has been deteriorating for several years. The groundwater, which is the main source of drinking water, has been extensively polluted with high levels of chromium and microbiological organisms. A huge majority of tannery workers and nearby residents is at high risks of lung cancer and other respiratory diseases. The efforts of government to overcome this problem are reportedly unsatisfactory. There is a need to revitalize the environmental and health management operation by the municipal committee Kasur. Non Government Organizations and local representatives must be involved in preparation and implementation of a comprehensive health management action plan for the city. Actions and commitments are required at all levels in the education system and environmental education needs to be included in all educational curricula. The development must be in harmony with the environment to achieve the target of sustainable environmental and socio-economic development.

The study aims to clarify the relationship of the health condition of the residents and workers with tanning industrial activity to increase public awareness on the issues related with environmental risk assessment and health management in Kasur.