TOBA TEK SINGH: The Faisalabad divisional administration has launched a ‘consultative planning’ exercise to assess how industrial activity in congested urban areas could be transitioned in a phased and orderly manner, signalling a shift from short-term fixes toward long-range urban and economic planning.

Officials say the initiative is not about abrupt relocation, but about understanding industry needs, readiness and constraints before any future zoning decisions are taken.

The process aims at balancing economic growth with urban livability, environmental management and infrastructure capacity in one of Punjab’s most industrialised cities.

Commissioner Raja Jahangir Anwar said on Saturday that cities like Faisalabad had evolved rapidly, often without clear separation between residential, commercial and industrial activity - a pattern that has intensified pressure on air quality, water resources, traffic and public health.

“Cities do not face problems overnight, and they cannot be fixed overnight either,” he said, stressing the need to anticipate future pressures rather than respond after damage has already occurred.

FCCI head wants transition process to be phased, voluntary and consultative, rather than being abrupt or mandatory

Officials involved in the planning exercise noted that the commissioner office is first seeking to map the diversity of industrial activity across the division. Not all units exert the same environmental or infrastructure burden, they said, and any transition would therefore need to be sector-specific and gradual rather than uniform. A key pillar of the initiative is stakeholders engagement, they added.

The commissioner’s office plans to conduct structured surveys and consultations with industry owners, trade bodies and chambers of commerce to assess operational requirements and the type of facilitation that would make planned zoning workable. The assessment will examine issues such as access to utilities, logistics, regulatory processes and land availability, alongside possible incentives including tax relief, concessional financing, licencing facilitation, NOC exemptions and the provision of alternative industrial plots.

“What we are trying to understand is what industry would need to move forward, not what the administration thinks it should need,” Mr Anwar said.

Officials described the exercise as one of the most significant planning efforts undertaken in the division, with the aim of gradually easing industrial pressure on dense urban centres without disrupting investment, output or employment.

Environmental considerations, they said, are being framed as a business enabler rather than a constraint. Cleaner air, reliable water supply and organised waste systems reduce operational risks and improve long-term productivity, officials argued, pointing to global cities where industrial zoning has strengthened.

INDUSTRY’S PERSPECTIVE

Faisalabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry (FCCI) president Farooq Yousaf Sheikh appreciated the ongoing consultative process aimed at long-term urban planning, environmental improvement and sustainable industrial growth in the city.

He said challenges such as air pollution, water management issues, traffic congestion and public health concerns require structured planning and organised industrial zoning. In this context, he said, he has apprised the commissioner that the FCCI agrees in principle that industrial relocation, where necessary, can be a positive and forward-looking step for the city’s future. However, FCCI firmly believes that the success of any industrial relocation initiative depends on comprehensive government facilitation, adequate incentives, and a well-planned, phased implementation strategy, Mr Sheikh added.

He suggested that fully developed and officially notified industrial zones should be established, equipped with complete infrastructure, including electricity, gas, water supply, waste management systems, road connectivity, and security arrangements.

The FCCI president said these industrial zones should be developed on the Fiedmc model, offering modern facilities and a business-friendly environment to encourage voluntary relocation of industries.

He suggested that to make relocation commercially viable and attractive, the government should extend tax concessions, special incentive packages, besides transitional and financial support.

He said this will ensure that industries do not face increased production costs due to their relocation.

Sheikh said it must be acknowledged that many industries operate heavy and sensitive machinery, for which the relocation is technically complex and financially demanding. Therefore, special logistical, technical, and regulatory support from the government will be essential to ensure that industrial operations remain uninterrupted, and industries do not incur financial losses or production shutdowns during the transition period, he said.

He suggested that for a smooth transition, the relocation process should be phased, voluntary, and consultative, rather than abrupt or mandatory, so that industrial activity, employment, and overall economic stability are safeguarded.

“We are confident that with proper facilitation through infrastructure development, incentives, and tax relief, industrial relocation will not only help address urban and environmental challenges, but will also enhance industrial efficiency, competitiveness and long-term sustainability,” he said

We are fully committed to cooperating with the administration in this consultative process, he said.

The Yarn Sizing Unit Owners’ Association chairman Shakil Insari said that he asked the commissioner that comprehensive planning should be ensured in this regard, as a few years agoindustrialists had shifted their units outside the city, but the location they had moved to again become congested because of unplanned urban growth.Faisalabad Chamber of Small Traders & Small Industry CEO Mian Zafar Iqbal also endorsed the suggestions given by the FCCI president for shifting industries from congested areas.

Published in Dawn, January 12th, 2026