Faisalabad moves to become first circular city to boost exports
FAISALABAD: Practical measures have been initiated to make Faisalabad Pakistan’s first circular city in a bid to meet European Union (EU) compliance requirements and enhance the exports of Pakistani products in international markets. This was stated by Faisalabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry (FCCI) President Arif Ehsan Malik while talking to a delegation of the Faisalabad Dyes and Chemicals Merchants Association.
He said that although Faisalabad’s industrial portfolio had expanded significantly, the textile sector continued to hold a central position and remained the country’s largest foreign exchange earner. He added that the European Union was currently striving to achieve zero waste across different industries in order to control environmental pollution and address the environmental challenges resulting from it.
The FCCI president said he was pleased to note that more than 100 units were already operating in Faisalabad to recycle and reuse textile waste. However, he stressed the need to organize these units, fully utilize their potential, bring them into compliance with EU standards and create new employment opportunities. He said Faisalabad had already been declared as the country’s first circular city with a focus on the textile sector, while practical measures were now being proposed to translate the initiative into reality. He maintained that the circular city model would not only help control environmental pollution in the industrial city but also ensure uninterrupted exports to European Union countries. He said these measures would also create new opportunities for the textile and allied vendor industries, which needed to be fully exploited.
Arif Ehsan Malik appreciated the active role played by the Faisalabad Dyes and Chemicals Merchants Association in the chamber’s affairs. He said the association had produced several presidents of the chamber who had rendered valuable services not only to their respective sector but also to the business community, Faisalabad and the country. He announced that a standing committee comprising 10 active members of the association would be constituted to propose practical, feasible and result-oriented measures for resolving issues faced by the sector. He also emphasized further strengthening the existing coordination between the chamber and the association.
Earlier, FCCI Senior Vice President Mian Muhammad Saeed thanked the association members for visiting the chamber and urged them to submit their sector-related issues in writing so that practical measures could be taken for their resolution. Former presidents Shabbir Hussain Chawla and Ayub Sabir, along with Mughees Khokhar, Khawaja Javed, Nabeel Ahmad Chohan, Khalid Latif and other members, also spoke on the occasion. Earlier, the Dyes and Chemicals Merchants Association presented bouquets to FCCI President Arif Ehsan Malik and Senior Vice President Mian Muhammad Saeed on assuming their new responsibilities, congratulated them and assured them of their full cooperation.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2026