FAISALABAD:
The District Industrial Relocation Committee has written to the District Revenue Collector to identify and allot state land to relocate hundreds of industrial units out of Faisalabad city, citing the growing adverse effects of industrial pollution on public health.
The committee has struggled over the past month and a half to find a large parcel of suitable land, as much of the city’s agricultural land has been converted to residential areas under the master plan, primarily to meet the demands of developers.
Officials of the divisional administration have held consultations with stakeholders regarding relocation of industries contributing to air and water pollution in urban areas. Meetings with industrialists and traders around a charter of demands are underway.
A meeting chaired by Faisalabad Commissioner Raja Jahangir Anwar included Director General and Head of the Committee Asif Chaudhry who briefed the participants about the consultations.
A municipal survey identified 187 industries responsible for significant water and air pollution, and it was recommended that they be prioritized for relocation outside municipal boundaries.
Commissioner Anwar stressed the importance of an overall ministerial strategy to implement the plan effectively. He asked the Finance Ministry to provide a report on government land available for the establishment of industrial zones, noting that 1,090.8 kanals of land would be required for industries occupying one acre or more. In a first phase, 111 highly polluting industrial units will be moved. Steps are also planned to shift large industries to the Faisalabad Industrial Area Development and Management Corporation (FIEDMC).
Officials from the Chamber of Commerce and various professional associations have assured their support for the project.
The commissioner said recommendations would be presented to the Punjab and Pakistan governments, including proposals for soft loans to industrialists for purchasing non-mobile machinery.
The World Bank will also be asked to assist in Pakistan’s first industrial relocation initiative.
