Government urged to declare Sialkot as 'Cottage City'

The world has recognised Sialkot as export-oriented city of Pakistan, since this place possesses century-old industrial heritage. It has developed a remarkable export culture over the period and contributing over $1.6 billion annually to the national exchequer.
In order to develop true and secure small and medium culture of Sialkot, the government should declare Sialkot as "Cottage City" and a special package of incentives and concessions should be announced for the upgradation and modernisation small and medium sector. The Sialkot exporter community is trying its utmost for doubling the export volume despite tough competition in the global market for fetching valuable foreign exchange for the country.
Undoubtedly, small and medium enterprises were playing a significant role not only in strengthening the national exchequer but also providing employment to thousands workers belonging to Sialkot and its adjoining areas. The development of cottage industries in Sialkot has assumed a model status for developing world. The city is sprawling with thousands of small and medium enterprises, which are engaged in honouring their global commitments for export of value-added quality products such as sports goods, surgical instruments, leather goods, gloves, badges and musical instruments etc.
The Sialkot city has developed industrial edge over other cities of the country, especially in sports goods and surgical instruments. As many as 0.12 million industrial workers are engaged with sport and surgical industries and are earning their livelihood in a respectable way. The business community of Sialkot is playing a tremendous role not only in bringing boom in exports, but also fulfilling the social responsibilities and uplift of the city on voluntarily basis.
Over 85 percent of total production of soccer ball of the world comes from Sialkot while all international brands are sourcing their supply of footballs from this export-oriented city. The soccer ball industry of Sialkot was alleged by foreign print and electronic media for the involvement of child labour in stitching of balls. In this regard, a prompt action was taken by the Sialkot Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCI) to tackle the situation and protecting the soccer ball industry of the area. The soccer ball industry had totally been purged from the menace of child labour and Sialkot had set a role model for others to follow the same for the elimination of child labour. In addition to this, the business community had managed to develop the culture of "Do it yourself" under which several projects including Sialkot International Airport had been completed successfully.
Keeping in view the contribution and importance of Sialkot, the Punjab government should declare Sialkot as "Cottage City" for larger national interests of SMEs. Socio-political circles including business community appealed to the Punjab and the federal governments that special attention should be focused on setting up IT Park in this historic and totally export-oriented city of the country.