The polyurethane foam manufacturing industry is shifting 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, ending decades of deadlocked commitments dating back nearly 40 years.
The move is in line with long-standing recommendations outlined in key planning documents, including the Structure Plan 1986, the Master Plan 1992, the Faisalabad Area Upgradation Project 1993, the Traffic Management and Transport Plan 1997, the Peri-Urban Structure Plan 2015 and the Master Plan 2021.
A formal Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed at the Commissioner’s office between the departmental administration and key industrial stakeholders.
The signatories included Commissioner Faisalabad Raja Jahangir Anwar, President Chamber of Commerce Farooq Yousuf Sheikh, Chairman All Pakistan Textile Processing Mills Association Bao Muhammad Akram, Senior Vice Chairman Pakistan Hosiery Manufacturers and Exporters Association Ahmed Afzal Awan, Chairman All Pakistan Textile and Sizing Industries Association Shakeel and Sizing Industries Association, Owmed Chakeel Industries Association. Waheed Khaliq Ramey.
Senior officials including Director General Faisalabad Development Authority (FDA) Muhammad Asif Chaudhry, Additional Commissioner Coordination Tanveer Murtaza and representatives from industries, environment and labor departments were also present.
Addressing the media, Commissioner Anwar said that in the first phase, 111 industrial units contributing to water and air pollution will be shifted to newly developed industrial zones. He termed the development as a “historic milestone” and said it reflected Punjab’s vision of Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif to ensure a cleaner and healthier urban environment.
He appreciated the efforts of the sub-committee on industrial relocation headed by DG FDA Muhammad Asif Chaudhry and acknowledged the cooperation of industrialists and traders who agreed to the relocation plan.
The commissioner said relief measures would include allotment of land for industrial zones, provision of development funds, tax incentives on relocation and access to soft loans. A comprehensive charter of demands, along with the MoU, will be sent to the federal and provincial governments for approval.
Under the agreement, the administration will identify hazardous entities, propose 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 promote compliance, the authorities are also considering an inspection-free operating framework, single-window facilitation, installation of Effluent Treatment Plants (ETPs) and tax holidays of three to five years.
A joint coordination committee of stakeholders will be established in the Commissioner’s office to monitor progress and address operational challenges.
