Mian Kashif Ashfaq, Chairman Faisalabad Industrial Estate Development and Management Company (FIEDMC), recently met with Punjab Chief Minister, Sardar Usman Buzdar. On the occasion, Ashfaq presented him a cheque worth Rs 4 million for the CM Fund for Corona Control. This contribution was made on behalf of the Faisalabad’s industrial community.
Along with that, Mian Kashif also presented a donation on behalf of two Chinese companies – Time Ceramics and Henan DR. This included N95 and surgical masks, personal protective equipment (PPEs), disinfectant material and other equipment worth Rs 3.5 million.
Chief Minister Usman Buzdar’s comments on the occasion
Upon receiving these contributions, Usman Buzdar lauded the philanthropic passion of Faisalabad’s industrial community and the Chinese companies. He thanked Kashif Ashfaq for his enthusiasm in this difficult time. Buzdar said that the contribution of Faisalabad’s industrialists to the corona relief fund was commendable. While talking to Mian Kashif Ashfaq, he further appreciated how Pakistani industrialists always come forward for national assistance.
FIEDMC chairman meets CM Buzdar, donates Rs4 million to Corona Fund https://t.co/F0rcoiVrnW pic.twitter.com/Kp7qcP5CbC
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“Punjab government had allowed some industries to operate but the observance of the standard operating procedures (SOPs) has been declared mandatory”. He said that more industries would be allowed to start their operations as the situation was improving.
The CM ordered to accelerate the work on Allama Iqbal Industrial City in, as it is Faisalabad’s flagship project under the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC). “The government would continue extending cooperation for early completion of the project”, he added. Buzdar also congratulated the Chinese leadership for speedily overcoming the coronavirus pandemic; adding that the donation of necessary equipment was a reflection of the strong bilateral relations between the two countries.
Chairman FIEDMC, Mian Kashif Ashfaq then briefed the Chief Minister about the progress made on Allama Iqbal Industrial City project. He said that the industrialists were fully supporting the government efforts to deal with coronavirus. Provincial Health Minister Dr Yasmin Rashid, representatives of Chinese companies and Chief Operating Officer of FIEDMC, Amir Salimi were also present on the occasion.
Read more: FIEDMC Chairman commends Government’s anti-hoarding stance
FIEDMC and Allama Iqbal Industrial City
Faisalabad Industrial & Economic Development Company (FIEDMC) is a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) entity between the Punjab government and Faisalabad’s business community. It was set up in 2004 as a public listed company, established by the Government of Punjab, during Jahangir Khan Tareen’s tenure as ‘Advisor to CM Punjab on Special Initiatives”.
Since its inception, FIEDMC has successfully constructed three industrial estates along Faisalabad motorway, namely: M-3 Industrial City, Value Addition City and the latest, Allama Iqbal Industrial City (AIIC).
Allama Iqbal Industrial City (AIIC) expands over an area of 3200 acres. On Friday 3rd January, this year, Prime Minister Imran Khan publicly inaugurated the industrial city. AIIC is the first CPEC-prioritized special economic zone, strategically located just opposite M-3 Industrial City on Motorway M-4, Faisalabad.
Read more: FIEDMC is taking strict measures against coronavirus
According to FIEDMC, AIIC is designed on international standards to fulfill the needs of international – especially Chinese – industrialists. The overarching purpose of these industrial estates is “industrial relocation” from China to key centers in Pakistan. However, FIEDMC also envisions an industrial relocation from congested inner cities to these new SEZs.