New FCCI president unveils roadmap to boost Faisalabad’s industrial, export potential

FAISALABAD, Sep 30 (APP): Newly-elected Faisalabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry (FCCI) President Arif Ehsan Malik has announced an ambitious roadmap focused on strengthening Faisalabad’s role in policymaking, promoting industrial growth and exports, supporting SMEs and startups, and developing the city as a textile circular economy hub.

Addressing the FCCI Annual General Meeting (AGM), Malik said the chamber would be fully digitalised, standing committees made more effective, and efforts accelerated to establish a Special Technology Zone, Faisalabad Expo Center and venture capital facility for startups. He also proposed commercialising university research, using artificial intelligence to address industrial problems, promoting value addition in agricultural commodities and expanding corporate social responsibility activities.

He said the chamber would work with the administration to improve the city’s basic infrastructure and address problems faced by traders in downtown areas. He also pledged efforts to resolve issues confronting SMEs, including those arising from SRO 1109, and to improve access to financing through the EXIM Bank.

Expressing concern over the state of industry, Malik said the government’s export-growth targets could not be achieved while containers remained stuck at ports for weeks. He called for identification and removal of logistical bottlenecks through practical measures and appropriate policy reforms.

He stressed the need for an export-led growth strategy, including rationalisation of duties. He said man-made fibres now constituted about 80 percent of textile-sector raw material, compared with 20 percent cotton, and called for removal of import duties on man-made fibres to enhance exports of value-added textile products.

Malik also called for removal of the 20 percent anti-dumping duty on raw materials for technical textiles, saying Pakistan’s share in the approximately $300 billion global technical textiles market remained negligible.

Referring to emerging trade opportunities, he said Pakistan should explore new trading blocs and strengthen commercial ties with Türkiye and East Africa by addressing tariff barriers. He said he had sought Commerce Minister Jam Kamal’s feedback on opportunities arising from an emerging 20-country trading bloc that includes China.

He said SMEs accounted for around 30 percent of exports, but their access to credit remained inadequate. Efforts would be made to ensure that SMEs received appropriate financing through the EXIM Bank, he added.

Malik also called for development of new industries, citing sectors such as food processing, healthcare, energy storage and defence manufacturing, while stressing that their growth could generate associated vendor industries and employment opportunities.

He said Pakistan’s large young population and significant number of out-of-school children underscored the need for coordinated economic and human-capital development efforts. Seminars would also be organised to raise awareness among the business community and develop an economic vision for Faisalabad.

Outgoing FCCI President Farooq Yousaf Sheikh presented an account of his one-year performance, while a documentary highlighting his achievements was screened. He attributed the chamber’s accomplishments to the support of his family, leadership, team members and executives.

Group Head Mian Muhammad Idrees appreciated the outgoing office-bearers and executives and assured the incoming leadership of his cooperation. He said an additional floor would be constructed on the chamber’s existing building, while a boundary wall would be built around its five-acre plot at FEDMIC and a feasibility study conducted for a state-of-the-art building there.

Group Leader Mian Javed Iqbal said new projects and priorities emerged with each change in chamber leadership. He also called for rotation in the leadership of standing committees to bring fresh and diverse ideas.

Earlier, Election Commission members Muzammil Sultan, Chaudhry Muhammad Nawaz and Atif Munir Sheikh formally announced the newly elected office-bearers and executives, expressing satisfaction over the transparency of the electoral process.

The AGM was attended by outgoing Senior Vice President Naveed Akram Sheikh, Vice President Engineer Asim Munir, newly elected Senior Vice President Mian Muhammad Saeed, Vice President Muhammad Yasin and former FCCI presidents. The routine agenda was also considered, while shields were distributed among officials and individuals recognised for outstanding performance during the previous year.