Polyurethane foam manufacturing industries are switching to cleaner methods. PHOTO: FILE
FAISALABAD:
In a move towards environmental reform, the Faisalabad divisional administration has initiated the relocation of hazardous industrial units from densely populated urban areas to designated industrial zones, thereby ending decades of stalled commitments dating back almost 40 years.
The move aligns with long-standing recommendations outlined in key planning documents including the 1986 Structural Plan, the 1992 Master Plan, the 1993 Faisalabad Area Improvement Project, the 1997 Traffic and Transportation Management Plan, the 2015 Peri-Urban Structure Plan and the 2021 Master Plan.
A formal Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed at the Commissioner’s Office between the divisional administration and key industrial stakeholders.
The signatories included Commissioner Faisalabad Raja Jahangir Anwar, President Chamber of Commerce Farooq Yousuf Sheikh, President Pakistan Textile Processing Mills Association Bao Muhammad Akram, Senior Vice President Pakistan Hosiery Manufacturers and Exporters Association Ahmed Afzal Awan, President Pakistan Textile and Sizing Industries Association Shakeel Ahmed Ansari and Chairman Council of Trade Owners Association Waheed Khaliq Ramey power looms.
Top officials, including Faisalabad Development Authority (FDA) Director General Muhammad Asif Chaudhry, Additional Commissioner for Coordination Tanveer Murtaza and representatives of the industries, environment and labor ministries were also present.
Speaking to the media, Commissioner Anwar said that in the first phase, 111 industrial units contributing to water and air pollution would be relocated to newly developed industrial zones. He termed the development a “historic milestone” and said it reflected Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif’s vision to ensure a cleaner and healthier urban environment.
He appreciated the efforts of the industrial relocation sub-committee, headed by DG FDA Muhammad Asif Chaudhry, and acknowledged the cooperation of industrialists and traders who accepted the relocation plan.
The commissioner said facilitating measures would include allocation of land for industrial zones, provision of development funds, tax incentives for relocation and access to soft loans. A complete charter of demands, as well as the memorandum of understanding, will be sent to the federal and provincial governments for approval.
Under the agreement, the administration will identify hazardous units, offer land for two industrial zones and coordinate with relevant departments to ensure infrastructure development, including roads, electricity, gas, water supply, drainage systems and waste management facilities.
To encourage compliance, authorities are also considering an inspection-free operational framework, single window facilitation, installation of effluent treatment plants (ETPs) and tax holidays of three to five years.
A joint coordination committee comprising stakeholders will be established at the commissioner’s office to monitor progress and address operational challenges.
