Sialkot industrial sector earning $1b forex yearly



SIALKOT: Sialkot Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCI) President Dr Khurram Anwar Khawaja has said that Sialkot is an important economic centre and export-oriented city in Pakistan and the development of the local cottage industries here has assumed a model status for the developing world.

Talking to reporters, he said that the thousands of small and medium enterprises situated in around the city are engaged in honouring their global commitments for export of value-added quality goods like gloves, musical instruments, martial arts uniforms, cutlery and military uniform badges.

He said the entrepreneurs who always focused all their energies and attention in quest of the best in combination with the incomparable expertise and skill of the local workers are exporting the highest quality products to the entire global market.

The century-old history of sporting goods and surgical industry has seen the industries developed to the highest international standards mainly due to business wisdom and natural sense of the entrepreneurs towards export. Other industrial sectors of Sialkot are also following the trend.

The products standards being of exceptional quality are meant for markets of developed economies not affordable even for domestic markets, which are under-developed. The SCCI president said Sialkot's field hockey sticks and cricket bats were used in all the international games including the Olympics and world-cups.

It is the distinction of Sialkot that the hand-stitched soccer balls made here are played in World Soccer Cups, European Championships and other cups as well. The best cricket and hockey players of the world prefer to use cricket bats and hockey sticks made in Sialkot which has made Sialkot a household name all over the world. Most of the developed countries are importing surgical instruments from Sialkot for the export purpose under their own brand name.

In leather products and textiles sports wear Sialkot compete with other garments Sialkot has been winning the best export trophy award in this sector for 14 years. He said it was but natural that people of Sialkot remain very engaged for achieving the best in every field of life.

Similar is the case with other items produced in Sialkot. The export-oriented industrial sector of Sialkot is earning foreign exchange of $1billion annually, which is a remarkable achievement considering the small size and population of the city. It is worth-mentioning that because of the SMEs culture developed at Sialkot per capital income of the people is much higher than any other part of Pakistan. He said the bank loan and tax default rate in Sialkot is practically zero percent which is a clear proof of the prudence and responsible attitude of the businessmen in their business dealings, may it be with the foreign customers, the Bank or revenue department.