Chairman - FIEDMC

EVOLVE: Chenone is your family owned enterprise, how do you define certain values in your own business and how it contributes to overall business sector’s success?

Mian Kashif: ChenOne is a leading, multi-channel brand with a proud Pakistani heritage, which trades from over more than 42 stores nationwide. The journey of ChenOne started with a man’s unique vision to chisel the textile and retail sector by providing employment opportunities and there is nothing better than giving opportunities to the needy and newbies and walking an extra mile to make life worthwhile for others. That is why we always bear in mind “Remember why you started this journey”.

EVOLVE: FIEDMC claims that it takes you from proud past to a promising future which is why under the umbrella of FIEDMC special initiatives have been taken Naya Pakistan Housing Scheme, Clean & Green Pakistan, Technical Education and Skill Development and Labor Shuttle Service. Do you think these propositions are functional in harmonizing international aid towards CPEC?

Mian Kashif: FIEDMC (Faisalabad Industrial Estate Development & Management Company) is a wholly owned govt of Punjab company with three special economic zones (SEZs). The main objectives are to promote economic development in Pakistan in line with the PM’s vision. FIEDMC is ideally positioned in Faisalabad Division with easy access to M3 and M4 motorways as well as rail and dry port. This is also a prime example of Public Private Partnership where the independent autonomous board of FIEDMC is led by the private sector of the three SEZs one of them represents CPEC – the Allama Iqbal Industrial City (AIIC). This is the largest SEZ area wise that is part of CPEC.

FIEDMC’s goals are import substitution, export enhancement, foreign direct investment, a bridge between industry and government, job creation, technology transfer, training and skill development - all these are in line with the development agenda of the Prime Minister and aimed at poverty reduction and growth.

FIEDMC’s initiatives are key in harmonizing international aid as key requisites of donors are easily fulfilled by recipient’s CPEC deliverables.

The donors can easily align their development assistance with the above mentioned ‘development priorities and results-oriented strategies set out by the recipient country (CPEC)’ and can ‘progressively depends on recipient countries’ to ‘streamline and harmonize their policies, procedures, and practices and skilled labor etc.’ which in turn will be the recognition of the benefits of harmonization’.

EVOLVE: What are the new trends in Pakistan’s industrial estates and what role has FIEDMC played in revolutionizing Pakistan’s industrial development in terms of progressive trends?

Mian Kashif: FIEDMC is taking a lead in setting new trends in Pakistan’s industrial estates and its aim is to revolutionize Pakistan’s industrial development by offering ‘Ease of doing business’ – this is done by setting up a ‘One window Service Centre’ in FIEDMC to enable a manufacturer to quickly setup his industry without the red tape process. FIEDMC is also offering tax holidays and zero import duty on machinery including Bond to Bond status for those wanting to use Pakistan for value added processes. FIEDMC offers deregulation, easy land acquisition, lower labor costs, skilled labor, subsidized utility bills, plug and play setup with state-of-the-art infrastructure – all are part of progressive trends.

EVOLVE: What are the challenges for a huge platform like FIEDMC and what are the underlying risk factors for industrial sector?

Mian Kashif: Challenges are the delays in the initial rollout of all the facilities that FIEDMC is trying to offer to the industry as FIEDMC is dependent on a number of Federal and Provincial departments and ministries for the initial setup. The other challenge is to attract foreign investors from across the world to setup their manufacturing in Pakistan esp. with the media perception of Pakistan and work that we need to do on improving its soft image.

EVOLVE: How is “sustaining focus” important for pursuing opportunities?

Mian Kashif: We must be able to concentrate on the delivery and customer satisfaction in our Special economic zones even if there are other distracting stimuli present. Setting up an industrial city from scratch requires sustained attention esp. as it will take a long time to complete.

FIEDMC has a strong commitment to invest in promoting inclusive and sustainable industrial development to effectively address major challenges such as growth and jobs, resources and energy efficiency, pollution and climate change, knowledge-sharing, innovation and social inclusion We also commit to craft policies that incentivize the creation of new technologies, research and innovation, recognizing the importance of … industrial diversification and value added to commodities.

EVOLVE: PM Imran Khan inaugurated Allama Iqbal Industrial City, a special economic zone (SEZ) under CPEC, which is likely to have investment about 2.58 bln U.S. dollars. Kindly shed light upon this huge project?

Mian Kashif: AIIC’s focus is offering new concepts - blocks have been specifically reserved for countries such as Chinese, Turkish, USA, UK, Europe, Saudi Arabia, Middle East etc. as well as introduce focused industry by allocating area i.e. Healthcity, Furniture city, Light engineering city, Apparel Part. At present AIIC is approx. 3k acres. We are looking to add a further 3k to this.

FIEDMC state of the art infrastructure includes plug n play model for quick setup including roads and rail to bring in workers; an air strip for cargo and to retain labor, AIIC is building low income homes.

FIEDMC is also implementing captive power plants, combined effluent treatment plants, safe city concept, model police station, disaster management cell, its own waste management cell etc.

EVOLVE: In your view, what are the footsteps to be followed that can help to attain long-term success in an organization?

Mian Kashif: Long term success comes with commitment, sustainability of the business model, retaining staff and ongoing investment in your human resources including innovation and technology. FIEDMC aims to continuously invest in technology, physical and digital connectivity, quality of life and sustainability so that we can maintain our position and performance into the future.

How effective is FIEDMC’s strategy to provide world-class infrastructure to prospective entrepreneurs? What are the core constituents and how successful is your strategy in bringing favorable change in Pakistan’s industrial sector?

Mian Kashif: FIEDMC is focusing on combining the rapid rate of technological change with a globalized economy and it will need to transform / evolve at a certain pace so as to not fall behind in innovation. FIEDMC’s aim is to attract high-end talent, skilled labor, foster innovation by setting up labs and incubators and in parallel maintain competitiveness. Our work class infrastructure is a sweetener for investors keeping in view the low cost of skilled labor as compared to other countries in the world. In addition to basic infrastructure we are continuously looking to implement smart solutions that are environment friendly and intelligent.

EVOLVE: COVID-19 is undoubtedly hitting economic efficiencies at large. How specifically it is going to affect future projects?

Mian Kashif: COVID has impacted the strongest of the economies and it has definitely had its impact on Pakistan and the way we will now be doing business as COVID is still not over. Future projects have been delayed and labor force scattered. We will need to re-align and re-focus ourselves which in turn will require a lot of hard work so that these projects are brought back on track including enhanced use of tools / skills based around technology.

EVOLVE: What message you have for the readers of EVOLVE magazine?

Mian Kashif: Believe in Pakistan and believe in yourself. Promote the soft image of Pakistan as well as investment in the CPEC Special Economic Zones as this will lead to the much-needed industrialization of Pakistan.