50 acres allotted for state-of-the-art expo centre in M-3 Industrial Estate
TOBA TEK SINGH: Pakistan’s first-ever computer chip manufacturing unit will be established in Faisalabad, Provincial Minister for Industries, Commerce and Investment Chaudhary Shafay Hussain announced on Thursday.
Addressing the business community at the Faisalabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry (FCCI), the minister said the government has also allotted 50 acres of land in the M-3 Industrial Estate for the construction of a state-of-the-art expo centre.
According to a press release, the minister said the chip-manufacturing facility would strengthen mobile phone assembling plants currently operating in Faisalabad, Karachi, and Lahore.
Expo Centre and Industrial Expansion
Mr Hussain said the proposed expo centre is likely to be constructed with funding from the Export Development Fund (EDF), adding that key decisions have been taken to accelerate the colonisation of the M-3 and Allama Iqbal industrial estates.
He said a community centre, boundary wall, and monitoring cell would be established to facilitate and secure foreign professionals working in these industrial zones.
The minister added that steps were being taken to provide banking and commercial facilities to industrial units operating in the estates, while similar initiatives are underway to fully develop industrial estates across Punjab.
Focus on Cotton, SMEs and Women Empowerment
The provincial minister said the government has launched a programme to boost cotton production through research and development, focusing on high-yield and disease-resistant seed varieties.
Regarding the Small Industrial Estate in Faisalabad, he said infrastructure-related issues were being resolved, while interest-free loans were being offered under the Punjab government’s Asan Karobar Scheme to support small and medium enterprises.
He also announced that three women training centres would be established in 2026 in Gujrat, Layyah, and Sahiwal, with Faisalabad set to receive a similar facility in the second phase.
Faisalabad–Shymkent Twin City Plan
Mr Hussain said Faisalabad and Shymkent, a major industrial city in Kazakhstan, are being declared twin cities, a move expected to open new avenues for industrial, trade, and economic cooperation.
Business Community Raises Concerns
FCCI President Farooq Yousaf Sheikh welcomed the government’s focus on industrial development but highlighted challenges faced by the private sector.
He said a trust deficit between government institutions and businesses had negatively impacted exports, alleging that as many as 32 departments were harassing industrialists. He also raised concerns over containers being intercepted even after customs clearance.
Mr Sheikh pointed to rising electricity and gas prices as major contributors to increased production costs and said delays in export refunds—from 15 days to nearly 90 days—had created liquidity issues.
He said Pakistan’s exports could reach $100 billion if a stable policy environment, uninterrupted reforms, and a business-friendly atmosphere were ensured. Several FCCI office-bearers and members participated in the interactive session, raising questions related to industry, exports, and infrastructure development.