Guide
About Faisalabad
Faisalabad, formerly Lyallpur, is one of Punjab's largest cities and the centre of Pakistan's textile industry. It grew from a colonial market town in the canal colonies of central Punjab, and the farmland around it still supplies cotton, wheat and sugar cane to local mills.
The city is often called the Manchester of Pakistan because of its spinning, weaving, processing and garment units. Buyers come here for yarn, greige cloth, home textiles and finished garments, and the city's chamber of commerce regularly describes it as the source of a large share of the country's textile exports.
Economy and main industries
Textiles dominate: ginning, spinning, weaving on power looms, dyeing and finishing, printing, home textiles and garments. Many firms are family businesses running from a single mill to integrated groups with export divisions. Supporting trades include textile machinery dealers, chemical and dye suppliers, packaging firms and freight forwarders.
Agriculture and food processing are the other pillars. The University of Agriculture, Faisalabad, a public research university with roots in the early twentieth century, anchors research, seed and agribusiness activity. The city also has engineering workshops, chemical plants and a large wholesale trade in grain and general goods.
Main business areas and markets
The old city is built around the Clock Tower. Eight bazaars radiate from it in a pattern that, seen from above, resembles the Union Jack: Rail Bazaar, Katchery Bazaar, Bhowana Bazaar, Jhang Bazaar, Aminpur Bazaar, Karkhana Bazaar, Chiniot Bazaar and Montgomery Bazaar. A circular road, the Gol Bazaar, connects them all. Together they remain the city's densest retail and wholesale area, selling cloth, garments, household goods, jewellery and hardware.
Beyond the centre, the city has spread along its main radial roads, including Sargodha Road, Jhang Road, Satiana Road, Samundri Road and Canal Road. Localities such as D Ground, Peoples Colony, Madina Town, Susan Road and Kohinoor City hold much of the newer retail, banking and office space, while mills and small units are scattered across the city and its outskirts.
Industrial zones and connectivity
The Faisalabad Industrial Estate Development and Management Company (FIEDMC) runs two large planned zones on the motorway. M-3 Industrial City covers more than 4,000 acres and has Special Economic Zone status. Allama Iqbal Industrial City, a priority Special Economic Zone under the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor, sits opposite it and is connected by a flyover at the Sahianwala Interchange on the M-4 motorway.
The motorway network links Faisalabad with Lahore, Islamabad and Multan, and Faisalabad International Airport serves passengers and some export cargo. Together, the motorway, airport and industrial zones form the main hub for the city's export industry.
Finding businesses in Faisalabad
People searching in Faisalabad most often look for yarn and fabric suppliers, garment manufacturers, dyeing and printing units, textile machinery and chemicals, transport companies and wholesale traders in the eight bazaars. Agricultural inputs and food processors are also common searches. PakistanYP lists Faisalabad businesses by category and locality, including the Clock Tower bazaars.
Frequently asked questions
What is the area code for Faisalabad?
Faisalabad uses the landline code 041. From outside Pakistan, dial +92 41.
What are the eight bazaars of Faisalabad?
They are Rail Bazaar, Katchery Bazaar, Bhowana Bazaar, Jhang Bazaar, Aminpur Bazaar, Karkhana Bazaar, Chiniot Bazaar and Montgomery Bazaar, all meeting at the Clock Tower.
Where is M-3 Industrial City?
M-3 Industrial City is a FIEDMC-run Special Economic Zone on the motorway near Faisalabad. Allama Iqbal Industrial City lies opposite it at the Sahianwala Interchange.
Why is Faisalabad called the Manchester of Pakistan?
The nickname refers to its concentration of textile mills and garment manufacturers, comparable to the historic cotton industry of Manchester in England.