The participants of National Defence Course 2004-05 visited Sialkot Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCI) on Wednesday. The aim of the visit to SCCI was to gain valuable input on Sialkot's contribution to national exports and GDP growth.
Addressing the participants Sialkot Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCI) President Qaiser S Shabbir said that that export-oriented city and nucleus of cottage industries of the country was earning dollars 775 million annually through the export of surgical instruments, sports goods and leather products.
He said the surgical, sports goods and leather industries had great potential and the business community engaged with these industries was making hectic efforts for bringing big boom in the export volume, he said.
Qaiser further told the house that SCCI was not only fulfilling its social responsibilities but also working for the development of industrial sector of Sialkot. Special attention, he said had been focused on improving the education, health sectors aimed at providing sufficient facilities to the masses of Sialkot besides adequate steps had also been taken for ensuring pollution-free environment inside and outside the industries not only to the industrial workers but also the general public.
The SCCI President revealed that 75 per cent soccer balls were stitched in Sialkot and being used in international football matches, world cups and other matches in the world.
About the child labour issue, he said soccer ball industry of Sialkot almost had been purged from this menace while business community engaged with surgical industry was making all out efforts for weeding out the child labour from the industry. The SCCI President informed the house that work on Sialkot International Airport was briskly underway and that mega project was totally financed by the private sector.
On this occasion Qaiser Shabbir said it was President Pervez Musharraf who approved the construction of an international airport at Sialkot for passenger and cargo traffic in February 2001 keeping in view the pressing demands of local business community. Business community and general public were grateful to President Pervez Musharraf, he said.
The contingents comprising the Chief Instructor, eleven members of directing staff, 29 military participants, 18 joint secretaries from civil services and 26 allied military participants.