Faisalabad’s complete industrial ecosystem driving economic growth: Commissioner

FAISALABAD, Mar 11 (APP): Divisional Commissioner Raja Jahangir Anwar on Wednesday said that Faisalabad stood as the country’s first city possessing a complete and comprehensive industrial ecosystem, enabling it to play a key role in Pakistan’s industrial growth despite challenging economic conditions.

He expressed these views while addressing industrialists during a meeting at Faisalabad Chamber of Commerce & Industry (FCCI) while Regional Police Officer (RPO) Sohail Akhtar Sukhaira was also present on the occasion.

The divisional commissioner said that Faisalabad had a unique advantage due to the presence of skilled manpower, wholesale and retail markets for raw materials and a wide network of supporting industries, all of which formed a strong industrial base. It was the administration’s responsibility to keep this system fully operational and ensure resolution of the issues being faced by the business community, he added.

He said that in collaboration with the chamber, the efforts were underway to address industrial problems while the government was also striving to provide the required facilities to strengthen economic activity.

Highlighting recent progress, Raja Jahangir Anwar said that numerous new industrial units had been established in Faisalabad since 2024, employing about 44,400 workers. He said that continuous establishment of industries reflected investors’ strong confidence in the city, even during difficult economic circumstances.

The divisional commissioner said that Punjab government, being the largest provincial institution with nearly 1.5 million employees and expenditures approaching Rs.5 trillion, was currently working under financial constraints due to global economic conditions. However, the government had clearly ensured that reductions in expenditures would not affect the supply of raw materials or exports, he added.

He said that when he first time visited the Faisalabad chamber, the city was facing numerous civic issues, but around 90 percent of them had now been addressed. He informed the participants that more than 11,000 streetlights had been installed while covers were being placed on approximately 150,000 manholes to improve urban infrastructure and safety.

He also announced plans to establish two new urban regeneration centers where improved roads, parks and public facilities would encourage new business activities.

He said that Faisalabad currently had around 50,000 industrial units and administrative restructuring was under consideration including the addition of another town and proposals for six new tehsils.

Raja Jahangir Anwar asked FCCI President Farooq Yousaf Sheikh to prepare a comprehensive list of local taxes including infrastructure development cess so that the matter could be presented to provincial authorities and discussed with Punjab Chief Minister (CM) Maryam Nawaz. He also assured further progress on circular economy initiatives.

Speaking on the occasion, RPO Sohail Akhtar Sukhaira said that Faisalabad had been provided with an effective administrative team, which had significantly accelerated the resolution of civic and security issues.

He assured the business community that maintaining smooth industrial and commercial activity was a priority for the police.

The RPO directed traffic wardens to regulate traffic on Canal Road during school closing hours to ease congestion. He further announced that separate desks would be established at the offices of RPO and City Police Officer (CPO) immediately after Eid to address the problems of FCCI members, with dedicated focal persons appointed for this purpose.

Earlier, welcoming the guests, FCCI President Farooq Yousaf Sheikh said that civic issues were being resolved speedily due to the cooperation between the administration and law enforcement authorities. He said that infrastructure development and beautification projects were underway across the city and revealed that the Chief Minister would lay foundation stone of the Metro Bus project in Faisalabad after Ramadan-ul-Mubarak.

Senior Vice President FCCI Naveed Akram Sheikh highlighted delays in the payment of refunds and demanded a faster refund system beyond the textile sector to include other industries as well.

During question-answer session, former FCCI President Rana Sikandar Azam, Executive Member Tariq Mahmood Qadri, PHMA representative Ahmad Afzal Awan, APBUMA representative Arif Ehsan Malik, Sadaqat Hussain Lodhi, Shakeel Ansari, Mian Tanveer Ahmad, Hajji Aslam Bhalli and others also shared their views.

Later, Naveed Akram Sheikh presented a vote of thanks.