The pace of development work on two mega projects, including Sports Industries Development Centre (SIDC) and Sialkot Business and Commerce Centre (SBCC) costing more than Rs 7.75 million was not up to the mark. SIDC project would be completed at a cost of Rs 435.64 million while SBCC would be accomplished at a cost of Rs 3.40 million.
The concept of setting up SIDC in this export-oriented city and hub of cottage industry of the country was to extend new technology of mechanised ball, which was a threat to hand-stitched inflatable soccer ball industry of Sialkot.
While expressing the opinion the business community said that the completion of Sports Industries Development Centre was delayed as a result of which the business community engaged with the soccer ball industry was suffering adversely.
They underscored the need of early completion of this vital project to facilitate the soccer ball manufacturer. The SIDC project was initiated by federal government to address the problems of soccer ball industry of Sialkot besides its modernisation. The sports goods industry was confronting with a serious threat in the form of thermo molded ball that uses medium end technology to produce a ball having most of characteristics of hand stitched ball. Sialkot is catering 85 percent of the total world demand of hand stitched inflatable balls that means 60 million balls annually.
The regular functioning of SIDC would enable the soccer ball manufacturers to cope with the new challenges and trends in the international market. Sialkot Business and Commerce Centre (SBCC) would be eight storyed building and consists of convention centre, business facilitation centre, a library, marketing services and display centre.
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