Arif Ehsan Malik, President of the Faisalabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry (FCCI), stated that Faisalabad has launched substantive preparatory work with the goal of becoming Pakistan's first textile-focused "circular city." The FCCI is pushing to convert industrial waste into resources to meet EU compliance requirements and preserve the city's access to international export markets.

Key Points

  • Faisalabad already has more than 100 factories engaged in textile waste recycling and reuse, which the FCCI sees as the foundation for building a circular economy ecosystem.
  • The EU is continuously tightening restrictions on industrial waste, putting compliance pressure on Pakistan's export-oriented industries.
  • The FCCI plans to establish a standing committee composed of 10 active members of the Faisalabad Dyes and Chemicals Merchants Association (FDCMA) to identify industry issues and propose solutions.

Malik made these remarks during a meeting with a delegation from the Faisalabad Dyes and Chemicals Merchants Association (FDCMA). He noted that Faisalabad's industrial structure has continued to expand over the years, but textiles remain the city's dominant industry and Pakistan's largest source of export earnings.

He pointed out that the EU is moving toward reducing industrial waste across all sectors to control environmental pollution and address the resulting environmental challenges, making compliance with evolving international environmental requirements increasingly important for Pakistan's export-oriented industries.

Malik said Faisalabad currently has more than 100 enterprises engaged in textile waste recycling and reuse, which is a valuable foundation for developing a complete circular economy system. However, he also said these enterprises need to be organized to unlock their collective potential, align their operations with relevant EU compliance requirements, and create new employment opportunities through the systematic utilization of industrial waste.

The FCCI has announced plans to make Faisalabad Pakistan's first circular city, with a focus on textiles, and is currently formulating specific measures and programs to put this vision into action. Malik believes the plan will help reduce environmental pollution in this industrial city while helping local industries better respond to international environmental and sustainability requirements, thereby ensuring continued exports to the EU market.

He also said that transitioning to a circular textile economy will bring new opportunities for the textile industry and its supporting supply industries, and that relevant enterprises need to prepare in advance to benefit from emerging market requirements. He emphasized the need to further strengthen coordination and communication between the FCCI and the association.

FCCI Senior Vice President Mian Muhammad Saeed thanked the delegation for its visit and called on association members to submit industry issues in writing so that concrete solutions can be initiated. FCCI former presidents Shabbir Hussain Chawla and Ayub Sabir, as well as attendees including Mughees Khokhar, Khawaja Javed, Nabeel Ahmad Chauhan, and Khalid Latif, also spoke on issues related to the dyes and chemicals industry. Before the meeting, the FDCMA presented flowers to Malik and Mian Muhammad Saeed to congratulate them on their new positions and pledged full cooperation.

Source: Faisalabad moves to become Pakistan's first circular city for textile compliance, exports: FCCI President · Originally published on 2026-10-05