Faisalabad Division

Faisalabad : ReNews Pakistan
Punjab Housing Secretary Noor ul Amin Mengal visited various development sites in Faisalabad and reviewed the progress of projects being executed under the Chief Minister Punjab Development Package and the Punjab Development Programme (PDP). During the visit, he inspected the progress of ongoing schemes, construction activities and safety arrangements for workers and citizens.
Deputy Commissioner Faisalabad Noman Siddique accompanied the Housing Secretary, while Managing Director WASA Saqib Haral briefed him on the progress of ongoing development projects.
The briefing revealed that 70 percent of the development work being carried out in Faisalabad under the Chief Minister Punjab Development Package has been completed, while 24 percent of projects under the Punjab Development Programme have also been completed.
The Housing Secretary visited key projects in the city, including the Gulistan Underground Mega Water Storage Tank and the Samanabad College Road Pipeline Scheme. He received updates from relevant officials on the current status of the projects, construction progress and the next stages of implementation.
Noor-ul-Amin Mengal stressed the importance of completing development projects on schedule and directed the concerned departments to ensure both quality and speed in construction work so that citizens can benefit from the completed schemes at the earliest.
He also emphasized the safety of workers and citizens at development sites, making it clear that a zero-tolerance policy would be followed regarding safety measures. He directed officials to ensure strict compliance with safety protocols during construction activities to prevent accidents and protect the public.
The Housing Secretary further instructed the relevant authorities to strengthen monitoring of development projects and ensure that construction quality is not compromised in the drive to accelerate work.
He said timely completion of the ongoing schemes is essential for improving civic facilities and addressing Faisalabad’s infrastructure needs. Officials also briefed the Housing Secretary on the future course of action and completion timelines for various development projects.

Faisalabad : ReNews Pakistan
More than half of Faisalabad’s urban industrial units have been classified as posing a very high environmental risk, prompting the district administration to intensify inspections and initiate action against industries operating in or near residential neighbourhoods.
The findings emerged from a comprehensive multi-dimensional survey conducted by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) as part of the government’s broader plan to identify environmentally hazardous industries and relocate high-risk units from densely populated areas to designated industrial zones.
According to the survey, major environmental and public safety risks associated with industrial activity in the city include emissions from boilers, untreated industrial wastewater, hazardous chemical use and the close proximity of factories to residential communities.
The report identified 782 industrial units operating across 105 union councils of Faisalabad, collectively employing approximately 43,612 workers, highlighting both the economic significance of the sector and the scale of the challenge facing authorities seeking to address environmental and land-use violations.
Of the industrial units surveyed, 568 are located within 0.5 kilometres of residential areas, while 441 units are situated inside or immediately adjacent to populated neighbourhoods, exposing nearby communities to potential air pollution, wastewater contamination and industrial safety hazards.
Regulatory compliance also emerged as a major concern. The survey found that 734 industrial units were operating without obtaining a no-objection certificate (NOC) from the EPA, raising questions over environmental oversight and enforcement within the city's rapidly expanding industrial landscape.
Authorities also identified 70 industrial units operating without mandatory environmental approvals or chemical licences and in violation of applicable land-use regulations. The survey recommended that these units should not be regularised because of the potential environmental and public health risks associated with their operations.
Following the findings, the Industry Relocation Committee, chaired by Faisalabad Commissioner Dr Imran Hamid Sheikh, decided to begin enforcement proceedings against industrial units operating in residential areas where their activities could endanger workers and surrounding communities.
Joint inspection teams comprising officials from the Environmental Protection Agency, Labour Department and Municipal Corporation have been constituted to inspect all 441 industrial units identified within urban residential areas.
The teams will examine whether the industries possess the required environmental approvals and labour registrations, whether their buildings have approved plans, and whether boilers and pressure vessels comply with prescribed capacity, operational and safety standards.
Initial notices will be issued to units where violations are identified, paving the way for further regulatory or enforcement action depending on the nature and severity of non-compliance.
Commissioner Dr Imran Hamid Sheikh said industries operating without the necessary approvals would not be permitted to continue functioning within city limits. He stressed that protecting industrial workers and residents living around factories would remain a priority for the administration.
The crackdown forms part of a broader effort to reorganise Faisalabad’s industrial footprint by gradually shifting hazardous and incompatible industrial activities away from residential communities and into properly planned industrial zones.
The Industry Relocation Committee also reviewed progress on identifying suitable locations and facilitating the relocation of industries currently operating in residential areas.
The initiative could have significant implications for Faisalabad’s urban planning and real estate landscape. Moving industrial operations out of residential neighbourhoods would not only reduce environmental and safety risks but could also open affected areas for more compatible residential, commercial and mixed-use development, subject to applicable land-use regulations.
As one of Pakistan’s largest industrial centres, Faisalabad faces the challenge of balancing industrial growth and employment with environmental protection, public health and sustainable urban development. The latest survey provides authorities with a detailed framework for determining which industrial units can meet regulatory requirements and which may ultimately have to relocate outside densely populated parts of the city.

Faisalabad | ReNews Pakistan
Two Chinese shareholders of Masood Textile Mills Limited have agreed to sell a combined 18.31 percent stake in the company to UAE based Velora Global Ventures F.Z.C. through separate share purchase agreements.
According to a disclosure submitted to the Pakistan Stock Exchange, Shanghai Challenge Textile Company Limited will sell a 7 percent stake in Masood Textile Mills, while Zhejiang Xinao Industry Company Limited will divest its entire 11.31 percent shareholding.
The acquisition will be completed through phased quarterly transactions over approximately three years. Completion of the deal will remain subject to approval from the Competition Commission of Pakistan and other applicable legal and regulatory authorities.
Shanghai Challenge Textile currently owns 17,396,833 ordinary shares in Masood Textile Mills, representing approximately 25.77 percent of the company’s issued and paid-up share capital. It will transfer the proposed 7 percent stake through 11 equal quarterly instalments.
Zhejiang Xinao Industry holds 7,636,550 ordinary shares, representing an 11.31 percent stake in Masood Textile Mills. The company will dispose of its entire shareholding through 10 equal quarterly instalments.
Velora Global Ventures said it would acquire the shares through separate agreements with the two Chinese companies. The UAE based firm also plans to submit a pre-merger application to the Competition Commission of Pakistan before completing the transaction.
Both Chinese shareholders said their notifications were intended only to inform Masood Textile Mills about the proposed transactions. They clarified that the sale of shares did not require the approval or consent of Masood Textile Mills.
Shanghai Challenge Textile was established in 2001 and is headquartered in Shanghai. It manufactures functional fabrics, sportswear materials, ready-made garments and medical protective products for international brands.
Zhejiang Xinao Industry is part of China’s Xinao Group and specialises in the production of worsted wool, cashmere and blended yarns.
Velora Global Ventures is a UAE registered company based in the Ajman Free Zone. However, publicly available information regarding its ownership and wider business activities remains limited.
Masood Textile Mills was incorporated in 1984 and has been listed on the Pakistan Stock Exchange since 1988. The company manufactures cotton and synthetic fibre yarn, knitted and dyed fabrics, and garments.