FAISALABAD: Pakistan’s first-ever chip manufacturing unit will be established in Faisalabad, marking a major milestone in the country’s industrial and technological development, Provincial Minister for Industries, Commerce and Investment Chaudhary Shafay Hussain announced on Wednesday.
Addressing members of the Faisalabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry (FCCI), the minister said the Punjab government has also allotted 50 acres of land in the M3 Industrial Estate for the construction of a state-of-the-art expo centre, which is proposed to be funded through the Export Development Fund (EDF).
He said the government had taken key decisions to fast-track the colonisation of the M3 and Allama Iqbal Industrial Estates. The upcoming chip manufacturing facility, he added, would revolutionise mobile phone assembly plants already operating in Faisalabad, Karachi and Lahore.
Chaudhary Shafay Hussain claimed that Faisalabad would become the third city in the region after China and India to host chip manufacturing facilities. He said foreign professionals working in the M3 and Allama Iqbal Industrial Estates would be provided comprehensive facilities, including a dedicated community centre, completion of boundary walls, a monitoring cell and installation of security cameras. Banking and commercial facilities are also being arranged for industrial units operating in these estates.
The minister said similar initiatives were under way to fully develop industrial estates across Punjab. He added that a prominent industrialist, Anjum Nisar, who was considering shifting his business to Vietnam, had now been persuaded to invest in Punjab. He also said issues faced by the pharmaceutical sector had been resolved, paving the way for fresh investment.
Highlighting Faisalabad’s textile heritage, Chaudhary Shafay Hussain noted that Pakistan’s cotton production had fallen sharply from 13–14 million bales annually to just 2–3 million bales. He said the Punjab government had launched a programme to revive cotton output through research and development of high-yielding, disease-resistant seed varieties.
Referring to the Small Industrial Estate in Faisalabad, he said infrastructure-related issues were being addressed, while interest-free loans were being offered under the “Assan Karobar” scheme to support entrepreneurs.
The minister also emphasised the development of skilled human resources, announcing plans to establish three women training centres in Gujrat, Layyah and Sahiwal in 2026, with Faisalabad to receive the facility in the second phase. He further revealed that Faisalabad and Shymkent, a major city of Kazakhstan, were being declared twin cities to enhance industrial and trade cooperation.
Welcoming the provincial minister, FCCI President Farooq Yousaf Sheikh said the pace of development in M3 and Allama Iqbal Industrial Estates had improved following the appointment of Azhar Waqar as Chairman of the Faisalabad Industrial Estate Development and Management Company (FIEDMC). However, he expressed concern over a trust deficit between government institutions and the private sector, which he said was hampering export growth.
He highlighted challenges faced by the industrial sector, including harassment by multiple government departments, delays at checkpoints despite customs clearance, high energy costs, and prolonged delays in tax refunds — now stretching to 90 days instead of the earlier 15 days — causing liquidity issues for exporters.
Mr Sheikh said Pakistan’s exports could reach $100 billion if a business-friendly environment and consistent policies were ensured.
Senior Vice President Naveed Akram Sheikh concluded the event with a vote of thanks, while FCCI President Farooq Yousaf Sheikh presented Chaudhary Shafay Hussain with commemorative shields and a collar pin in connection with the chamber’s 50-year Golden Jubilee celebrations. The provincial minister also recorded his remarks in the FCCI visitors’ book.
