In the wake of forthcoming World Cup, being played next year, the Federation of International Football Associations (FIFA) has decided to further support the initiatives of Sialkot Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCI), namely elimination of child labour in soccer ball industry.
According to a press release of the SCCI here on Saturday, the FIFA, World Federation of Sporting Goods Industry (WFSGI) and International Labour Organisation (ILO) are putting together a mission to visit Sialkot.
Besides, the experts from the International Labour Organisation (ILO), the mission will include FIFA head of Corporate Responsibility Federico Addiechi, Development Programme's head Urs Zanitti and WFSGI Secretary Andre Gorgemans.
The mission, during the SCCI visit from November 22 to 25, will determine the programme with soccer ball manufacturers in Pakistan and with the Independent Monitoring Agency of Child Labour.
The FIFA is likely to provide a substantial funding for the programme, which will include activities for the rehabilitation of children and programmes for sports development in Pakistan.
To formulate a programme for the mission in Sialkot, the SCCI held a meeting of soccer ball manufacturers and other businessmen and decided to form an organising committee under the convenership of M. Sanaullah Khan, which will prepare detailed programme and agenda for discussion with the visiting mission.