NAROWAL: Goods worth Rs1 billion were gutted by fire in a leather factory here on Tuesday on Aimanabad Road in Sialkot.

Reports said a fire broke out in the leather factory of Haji Muhammad Afzal due to a short circuit.

Sialkot District Emergency Officer Engineer Naveed Iqbal along with vehicles and personnel reached the spot.

He called fire tenders from all rescue points of Sialkot district to control the blaze. Owing to strong winds, the fire in the leather factory flared up.

The fire engulfed the six-storey building on five kanals of land.

Gujranwala Regional Rescue Emergency Officer Syed Kamal Abid also reached the spot after receipt of information. More vehicles were called from Gujranwala and Gujrat.

Rescue 1122 firefighters controlled the fire after 16-hour operation.

Naveed Iqbal said 22 fire vehicles, two aerial platforms, rescue vehicles and ambulances participated in the operation.

He said leather shoes, jackets, gloves and other products were being manuf actured in the factory.

The district emergency of ficer said the products were meant forexport to the UAE and European countries.

Naveed Iqbal said according toowner Muhammad Afzal, goods worth Rs1 billion were reduced to ashes.Thehreeruptedintheleather factory on Monday at 8 am and after continuous rescue opera-tions, it was brought under control at 2 am on Tuesday morning.