PIBF Warns of Deepening Industrial Crisis Due to Collapse of Industrial Estates

Muhammad Shahzad, Lahore
LAHORE, Pakistan — A leading business forum has warned of a looming industrial crisis in Punjab province, citing the “near collapse” of decades-old industrial estates that it says could further damage Pakistan’s struggling economy.
The Pakistan International Business Forum (PIBF) said Monday that Punjab’s industrial estate system—some facilities dating back 78 years—is plagued by severe governance failures and crumbling infrastructure that threaten the country’s manufacturing base.
According to the forum’s Industry Liaison Committee, the estates suffer from bureaucratic mismanagement, dilapidated internal roads, lack of transparent plot sale and transfer mechanisms, non-functional estate committees, absent security measures, and complete breakdown of maintenance systems.
“Industrial estates are meant to facilitate ease of doing business, not become administrative bottlenecks,” the PIBF said in its statement.
Call for Modern Management
The business group contrasted Punjab’s aging facilities with the model proposed under the Punjab Industrial Estates Development & Management Company (PIEDMC), which features one-window facilitation, empowered management boards, standardized bylaws, and investor-friendly systems.
Committee Convener Waqar Ahmed Butt and Co-Convener Muhammad Tahir Qureshi urged the Punjab government to immediately place all outdated industrial estates under professional management structures similar to PIEDMC.
Economic Stakes
PIBF warned that without urgent reforms, Pakistan risks losing critical industrial activity, employment opportunities, and export competitiveness at a time when the economy remains fragile.
The forum emphasized that reviving these industrial zones is essential to restoring investor confidence and returning Pakistan’s economy to a sustainable growth path.
Punjab, Pakistan’s most populous province, serves as the country’s primary manufacturing hub and contributes significantly to national exports and employment.