Ch. Shafay, Chinese Consul General inaugurate two new textile factories in PunjabNew SEZ projects expected to create 25,000 jobs for local residents

By Farzana Chaudhry
Lahore, Pakistan
LAHORE: Punjab Minister for Industries and Commerce Chaudhry Shafay Hussain, along with Chinese Consul General Zhao Shiren, on Tuesday inaugurated the Challenge Special Economic Zone (SEZ) and two new textile factories in Punjab, marking a significant expansion of Chinese investment in the province’s industrial sector.
The inauguration ceremony, held at PSIC House on Davis Road, was attended by Secretary Industries Umar Masood, Chairman Challenge Apparel Group Huang Weiguo, members of the Challenge Group, and other investors.
Speaking at the event, Chaudhry Shafay Hussain said the two new factories being established within the SEZ are expected to generate 25,000 employment opportunities for local residents. He said machinery orders for both units have already been placed, and production is expected to commence within one year. One of the factories, he added, will manufacture a type of fabric not currently produced anywhere else in Pakistan, enhancing the country’s textile diversification and export potential.
The minister said Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif had earlier held meetings with the Challenge Apparel Group, and her facilitation played a key role in the establishment of these new industrial projects.
Highlighting broader industrial initiatives, Chaudhry Shafay Hussain said the Punjab government is overseeing the construction of 10 new factories at Quaid-e-Azam Business Park in Sheikhupura, advancing electric vehicle assembly, and developing a 200-acre Pharmaceutical Valley to strengthen the pharmaceutical sector. He noted that a Garment City has already been established at the Quaid-e-Azam Business Park.
The minister appreciated the role of Chinese Consul General Zhao Shiren in promoting Chinese investment in Punjab and expressed hope that further investment would follow.
He said a community center for foreign investors is being established at the Faisalabad Industrial Estate, while Business Facilitation Centers are providing all essential services under one roof. The government, he added, is expanding the scope of these centers to further support industrial growth across Punjab.
Chaudhry Shafay Hussain emphasized that industrialization directly contributes to job creation and economic development. Chinese Consul General Zhao Shiren and Challenge Apparel Group Chairman Huang Weiguo reaffirmed their commitment to further investment in Punjab and to training the local workforce.
Both the Punjab government and the Challenge Group expressed optimism that the newly inaugurated factories would make a significant contribution to Punjab’s economy and provide substantial employment opportunities for local communities.