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The government should formulate a special package of incentives for SMEs in Sialkot for increasing the export volume, besides developing a true "Small- and Medium-scale Culture", exporters and manufacturers said on Thursday. The said that the city, with a century-old industrial heritage, which developed a remarkable export culture, was annually contributing more than $1.5 billion to the national exchequer.
Exporters, undaunted by prolonged power outages and tough competition in the world market, are trying their utmost for doubling the export volume. Manufacturers and exporters complained that repeated increases in electricity and natural gas tariffs had increased their manufacturing cost manifold, increasing their problems, including an acute liquidity crunch.
Local industries, manufacturers said, were in dire need of workers with technical proficiency, problem-solving and communication skills, computer literacy and the ability to work in a team-based environment to cope with new global challenges. They said that if a Technical Education and Vocational Training Authority had been established, they would have access to a cadre of trained and skilled hands, facilitating the industrial sector, but TEVTA had totally failed to produce a skilled and semi-skilled industrial force. Undoubtedly, the Small- and Medium-scale Enterprises (SMEs) were playing a significant role in boosting the national exchequer and providing employment to thousands workers in Sialkot.
The development of cottage industry in Sialkot is a model for the developing world. The city is sprinkled with thousands of small- and medium-scale enterprises, engaged in honouring their global export commitments for value-added quality goods such as sports and leather goods, surgical instruments, gloves, badges and musical instruments. The city is home to more than 150,000 industrial workers, including women.
Over 85 percent of the world's total production of soccer balls comes from Sialkot, while all international brands are sourcing their supply of footballs from this city. The success story of Sialkot-based industries could be attributed to unmatched skills of local workers and their craftsmanship.
Keeping in view the importance and contribution of Sialkot, the city should be treated, as a city of cottage industry and both federal and Punjab governments should announce special concessions for this export-oriented city for the larger interest of SMEs. Local exporters and manufacturers were of the opinion that the government should exempt major industrial towns from power cuts to ensure smooth productivity.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2012

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