CPEC’s first launched Special Economic Zone (SEZ), Allama Iqbal Industrial City in Faisalabad, is all set to enable its labor and investors with several incentives and facilities, as revealed since its groundbreaking on 3 January 2020. Faisalabad Industrial Estate Development and Management Company (FIEDMC) has revealed several plans to maintain security, enable easy conveyance, account for employee health needs and training of manpower.
Practical Commute
FIEDMC officials have announced a special shuttle train service that would run between various nearby areas and the industrial city. This service is aimed to help the workers of the industrial state with their daily commute.
FIEDMC has also taken responsibility to arrange protection to any and everyone working or visiting the industrial estate
For this laudable project, FIEDMC has, reportedly, commenced its initial negotiation with Pakistan Railways to start a ‘shuttle train’. The tentative agreement states that the cost and expenses of the said shuttle will be borne by FIEDMC, however, Pakistan Railways will be responsible for the expenditure and logistics of laying the required train tracks.
Moreover, it was also mentioned that approximately a handful of new railway stations – four to five are being mentioned, might also be constructed for the laborers and employees of all three of FIEDMC’s industrial cities: Allama Iqbal Industrial City, M-3 Industrial City, and Value Addition City.
Allama Iqbal Industrial City (AIIC) is a prioritized SEZ project of Faisalabad Industrial Development and Management Company (FIEDMC) which is also the first SEZ of China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) underway. This train service of AIIC is part of providing maximum facilities to the people working in industries of the SEZ. To further ease the transportation of employees from several parts of Faisalabad, the construction of Jhumrah Interchange has also been planned.
FIEDMC plans to create over 350,000 job opportunities in the Allama Iqbal Industrial City (AIIC) SEZ and of this, a quota has been set for at least 25 percent locals. In addition, over 20,000 locals who speak Chinese will get jobs during the first year of its operation. They are also helping to produce more skilled workers in the region, by collaborating with GIZ, Fauji Foundation and Punjab vocational training council to set up training institutes inside the AIIC SEZ. Individuals that complete their training will be given advance job contracts.
Read more: Industrialisation 2020: Government Finally walking the talk
Reports say that Jhumrah Road will be linked with the Motorway for the straightforward access to M-3 Industrial City. This will allow a better flow of traffic and reduce commute time. In fact, according to Asad Umar, Chairman of Public-Private Partnership Authority (PPPA) – mother organization of FIEDMC – the new Jhumra Interchange might be allocated funds in the upcoming budget 2020-2021.
Maintenance of Security
FIEDMC has also taken the responsibility to arrange protection to any and everyone working or visiting the industrial estate. For that purpose, the Punjab government has granted approval for setting up a Model Police Station in the Special Economic Zones of FIEDMC.
Moreover, two police posts will be established in M-3 Industrial City and one similar police post in the Value Addition City and Allama Iqbal Industrial City each.
The Police Station will employ a highly trained staff, also fluent in spoken English language, in case of interaction with foreign investors or visitors. FIEDMC will cooperate with the model police station to bear their expenditures.
On an area of over 3000 acres with hundreds of planned factories and industries, one can foresee possible technical mishaps that require immediate action to avoid blown-out disasters and harm to worker’s life
In order to ensure security for investors, potent measures will be taken. A wire boundary wall be constructed to prevent unwanted break-ins; apart from this, searchlights and CCTV cameras will also be installed.
To make the A monitoring system will also be set up in economic zones on the pattern of the safe city which will be linked with a central monitoring system of police. Furthermore, a service center will also be set up in the model police station which will screen the employees of spthe ecial economic zone to avoid hiring people with previous criminal records.
Safety Measures
On an area of over 3000 acres with hundreds of planned factories and industries, one can foresee possible technical mishaps that require immediate action to avoid blown-out disasters and harm to worker’s life. For this purpose, FIEDMC has established a Disaster Management Cell in Allama Iqbal Industrial City.
Read more: “Allama Iqbal Industrial City” may get new interchange: Asad Umar
An investment of over Rs 50 million has been made to cope with any emergency. The Disaster Management Cell is equipped with the necessary machinery and trained personnel to handle emergency situations. Rescue 1122 – which was established under the 2006 Punjab Emergency Service Act to provide management of emergencies such as fire, rescue, and emergency medical services – will provide trained staff and manage administrative affairs of this center.