FAISALABAD: Farooq Yousaf Sheikh, President Faisalabad Chamber of Commerce & Industry (FCCI) has stressed the need for strengthening linkages between industry and academia, stating that Pakistan’s sustainable development requires practical research and innovation rather than mere theoretical education.
He stated this while addressing a group of students from Government Graduate College for Women, Samanabad, during their visit to the Chamber.
He said that FCCI is the third largest chamber in Pakistan and the second largest in Punjab, representing around 22,000 members from 128 different industrial and commercial sectors. He added that the Chamber is playing an effective role as a bridge between the government and the business community and has recently submitted comprehensive economic proposals to the government in connection with the federal budget.
Farooq Yousaf Sheikh highlighted that Faisalabad contributes 67 percent of Pakistan’s textile exports and is the second highest revenue-generating city in the country after Karachi. He appreciated the recent improvements in Faisalabad’s road infrastructure and thanked Chief Minister Punjab Maryam Nawaz for her efforts. However, he emphasised that Faisalabad should also be allocated development funds on a par with Lahore.
He further stressed the need for establishing an Information Technology University and a cancer hospital in Faisalabad to meet the growing educational and healthcare requirements of the region.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2026