Chairman Faisalabad Industrial Estate Development and Management Company (FIEDMC), Mian Kashif Ashfaq, praised the government’s measures to prevent the spread of COVID-19. He took this stance while talking to a delegation of businessmen, investors and industrialists on the 23rd of April. On the occasion, he urged the business community to support the government for curbing hoarding and profiteering to provide relief to the masses in their difficult time.
Mian Kashif also called upon the business community to come forward and extend maximum support to people in need. He believes that partnering with the government to mitigate problems faced by society’s weak segments is the only way to go.
FIEDMC chairman advised the entire nation to stay calm and have faith. He trusts the measures adopted by the government and the armed forces to curb the spread of coronavirus in Pakistan. While highlighting that the ‘businesses and industrial units are closed’, Mian Kashif vowed that workers would not be laid off.
FIEDMC is taking strict measures against coronavirushttps://t.co/KJXAZYBDGY
— GVS (@GVS_News) March 24, 2020
Read more: FIEDMC supports PM Khan’s initiative: Says construction sector will boost Pakistan’s economy
In fact, he promised that FIEDMC would pay the labor timely wages to help support their families. Staying true to the cause, he also appealed to the business community to not to fire any workers. It is our role to play in meeting their needs through these tough times.
Mian Kashif’s comments on the efforts of Pakistan’s government
Mian Kashif Ashfaq also commended the efforts of the Punjab government. The officials distributed an early supply of ration and financial support to the needy and deserving families affected by the lockdown.
The FIEDMC chairman also appreciated the leadership of Chief Minister Usman Buzdar; under whose tenure the government of Punjab has set new records. They achieved such a status by establishing new field hospitals and quarantine centers in Punjab. He also termed the incentives announced by Prime Minister Imran Khan as a historic package for the construction industry. Perhaps this could be a turning point for the economy of Pakistan.
Mian reminded everyone that over 70 allied industries are depending on the construction sector, hence, making the relief package quite important. “We are indebted to the prime minister for reviving the construction industry.” The FIEDMC chairman appreciated the PM’s incentives and urged for a universal policy for building approval across the country to kick-start rapid construction activities.
We are indebted to the prime minister for reviving the construction industry
FIEDMC chairman then further highlighted the surge of infected people coming our way. “In the middle of such an outbreak, the hand of the state may well be forced into announcing and enforcing lockdown”.
“This is the time to focus all our energies on preparing for the surge by strengthening public health systems, building targeted income transfer schemes to help the poor to weather the foreseeable lockdowns, and to ramp up public messaging on social distancing,” he added.
FIEDMC and it’s Industrial Cities
Faisalabad Industrial Estate Development and Management Company (FIEDMC) is a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) entity; that is, between the Punjab government and the Faisalabad business community. The Government of Punjab set up this entity in 2004 as a public listed company with the aim to help Pakistan’s industries. Jahangir Khan Tareen undertook this whole operation during his tenure as ‘Adviser to CM Punjab on Special Initiatives’.
Read more: FIEDMC is taking strict measures against coronavirus
Since FIEDMC’s inception, it 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). These estates allow housing of various industries and their workshops with special incentives and ease of work.
Allama Iqbal Industrial City saw its groundbreaking at the hands of Prime Minister Imran Khan, on Friday 3rd January 2020. It expands over an area of 3200 acres and is the first prioritized CPEC special economic zone. The economic zone is strategically located opposite M-3 Industrial City and interconnected through flyover at Sahianwala Interchange, Motorway M-4, Faisalabad.