The project of Faisalabad Expo Centre will be undertaken through Public-Private Partnership instead of seeking help from Export Development Fund (EDF), said Mian Aslam Iqbal, Provincial Minister for Industries. He stated this talking to a delegation of Faisalabad Chamber of Commerce & Industry (FCCI) in his office which met him under the leadership of Rana Sikandar Azam, President FCCI.

Advisor to CM on Sports, Umar Farooq and Provincial Minister Ajmal Cheema were also present during this meeting.

Mian Aslam Iqbal told that the provincial Industries department has minutely worked on various options for the construction of Expo Center and decided that it should be completed under Public-Private Partnership mode.

He told that its management will be handled by Pakistan Expo Company if it was completed through funding from Export Development Fund.

He said that under Private-Public Partnership mode, FCCI could manage it affairs in collaboration with provincial government and FIEDMC. Similarly the provincial Industries department will also save millions of rupees to be paid as its rent to the Pakistan Expo Company.

Mian Aslam Iqbal appreciated various proposals presented by president FCCI and assured that he will direct chairman Punjab Small Industries Corporation to personally visit Faisalabad to resolve the issues relating to the colonization of small industrial estate Nalka Kohana.

He also assured that land will be allocated for weaving city in M3 industrial estate so that looms currently working in various parts of the urban areas, could be shifted to this planned industrial estate.

The minister also assured to review a proposal to allocate land to FCCI for the construction of its new building near proposed Faisalabad Expo Centre in M3 Industrial Estate.

Earlier Rana Sikandar Azam, President FCCI expressed concern that Environment department is sealing industrial units on the charges of using un-recommended fuel.

He said that government has stopped the supply of gas and industrial have no other option but to switch over to other fuels available in the market.

He said that Environment department may be directed to stop action against industrial units until gas supply is fully restored by the gas company.

He further told that this department should also work in consultation with FCCI as closure of industrial units have negative impact on production in addition to rending hundreds of workers jobless.

Regarding M3 Industrial and Allama Iqbal Industrial City, he said that investors are ready to establish their units but they are facing problems in getting land for new units. Rana Sikandar suggested that membership of FCCI may be declared mandatory for all applicants applying for plots in these industrial estates.

He said that he want to develop a housing scheme for the employees of the FCCI. He requested the minister to allocate a space for this proposed scheme for FCCI employees in FDA City.