Educated youth must lead Pakistan’s sustainable growth: Faisalabad Chamber of Commerce & Industry (FCCI) President Farooq Yousaf Sheikh

Faisalabad Chamber of Commerce & Industry (FCCI) President Farooq Yousaf Sheikh has said that highly educated youth are future of Pakistan and they must prioritize comprehensive and sustainable national development to steer the country towards economic stability and global competitiveness

FAISALABAD, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 4th May, 2026) Faisalabad Chamber of Commerce & Industry (FCCI) President Farooq Yousaf Sheikh has said that highly educated youth are future of Pakistan and they must prioritize comprehensive and sustainable national development to steer the country towards economic stability and global competitiveness.

He was addressing students of the fourth semester BBA program of Namal University Mianwali during their study visit to Faisalabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

Farooq Yousaf Sheikh said that Faisalabad is globally recognized for its textile sector, which contributes about 57 percent to the country’s total textile exports. With growing foreign investment, a number of modern, high-tech industries are also being established in the city which further strengthened its industrial base, he added.

He said that Faisalabad is the second largest revenue-generating city of Pakistan after Karachi, adding that the business community plays a pivotal role as a key pillar of the national economy. He highlighted that the private sector is also actively contributing to the social sectors including health and education, and recalled the Chamber’s efforts during recent floods, from relief distribution to rehabilitation of affected people.

The FCCI President said that the Chamber’s president serves on the boards of various government institutions, where practical recommendations are presented to improve governance and assist policy-making. He said that FCCI is striving hard to strengthen linkages between the government and the business community to ensure effective economic coordination.

Emphasizing the importance of modern technology, he urged the youth to benefit from Artificial Intelligence (AI) to improve systems and enhance IT exports.

He also paid tribute to the Pakistan Armed Forces for giving a befitting response to foreign aggression and appreciated the role of national leadership in initiating mediation efforts to de-escalate the recent Iran-US tensions, which elevated Pakistan’s global stature.

He stressed that the youth must now capitalize on these opportunities by moving forward with innovation and determination.

Responding to students’ queries, he said that a separate chamber has been established to promote women entrepreneurship while various facilities are also being provided for women empowerment.

He said that women are being allotted stalls at subsidized rates under the “Made in Faisalabad” initiative.

He appreciated the academic standard of Namal students and said that they possess strong awareness about economic affairs.

He said that Pakistan is currently a high-cost country in the region but expressed hope that young researchers would introduce innovations through research and development to facilitate ease of doing business.

Farooq Yousaf Sheikh emphasized that to boost exports Pakistan must comply with various international regulations by 2030, adding that efforts are underway to transform Faisalabad into the first circular economy city in the textile sector.

He expressed satisfaction over the Prime Minister’s consultation with all four provincial chief ministers on fuel price adjustments, but stressed that all stakeholders should similarly be taken on board for export-led growth strategies.

He also called for the formulation of a 10-year economic policy to ensure consistency and investor confidence.

Earlier, Head of Business Studies at Namal University Mianwali Prof Dr Muhammad Ahmad appreciated Faisalabad’s role in the national economy and stressed the need to move forward with a positive mindset.

Later, FCCI President Farooq Yousaf Sheikh presented a commemorative shield to Prof Dr Muhammad Ahmad.

Senior Vice President FCCI Naveed Akram Sheikh, Vice President Engineer Asim Munir, Executive Members Engr Jawad Shafiq, Mirza Zahid Iqbal and Shahid Majeed, along with Prof Dr Muhammad Ashraf and Associate Professor Hafiz Azhar Rasool from Namal University, were also present on the occasion.