The Punjab government has rolled out an ambitious industrial development plan worth Rs30 billion for the current fiscal year, aimed at modernizing and expanding industrial estates across the province to accelerate economic growth.
According to Punjab Industrial Estates Development and Management Company (PIEDMC) Chairman Major (r) Javed Iqbal, the funds will be utilized to upgrade infrastructure and fill missing facilities in all existing industrial estates, alongside developing new industrial zones in key districts.
“An amount of Rs30 billion will be spent during the current fiscal year to provide missing facilities in all industrial estates across Punjab,” Iqbal said, adding that the company is focusing on two major upcoming projects — the Sialkot and Rawalpindi Industrial Estates.
He noted that the Sialkot Industrial Estate, being developed over 400 acres near Sialkot International Airport, has entered an advanced stage of construction. It will be connected to the Sialkot–Lahore Motorway and the airport through modern road networks to support both import and export operations.
Meanwhile, the proposed Rawalpindi Industrial Estate remains in its conceptual phase. The project aims to foster industrialization in northern Punjab and create new avenues for investment and employment.
PIEDMC has also initiated expansion plans for the Multan Industrial Estate and Quaid-e-Azam Business Park in Sheikhupura. Special allocations have been made in the current budget for upgrading roads, sewerage, and other infrastructure at the Multan Industrial Estate.
Since its inception, PIEDMC has successfully developed and upgraded nine major industrial estates, including Sundar Industrial Estate, Quaid-e-Azam Industrial Estate (Kot Lakhpat), Multan Industrial Estate (Phases I and II), Quaid-e-Azam Business Park (Sheikhupura), Vehari, Bhalwal, Rahim Yar Khan, and Bahawalpur Industrial Estates.
The company has so far attracted investments exceeding Rs450 billion — including foreign direct investment — and generated over 200,000 direct jobs across Punjab. To streamline investor services, PIEDMC operates a one-window facilitation centre that manages applications, NOCs, and approvals for Special Economic Zone (SEZ) status.
Iqbal said the corporation’s focus is also on environmental compliance, directing industries to strictly adhere to pollution control standards. He emphasized that new estates are being developed outside city boundaries to reduce congestion and improve logistics efficiency, following the model of Sundar Industrial Estate and Quaid-e-Azam Business Park.
Industrialists have largely welcomed the provincial government’s new initiative. Lahore Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) President Faheem-ur-Rehman Saigol recommended that the government also establish a dedicated zone for small and medium enterprises (SMEs). “We have submitted a proposal for an SME-specific zone under a public-private partnership model,” he said.
