President of Sialkot Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCI) Dr Khurram Anwar Khawaja has said that Sialkot is an important economic centre and the only export oriented city in Pakistan and the development of local cottage industries has assumed a model status for the developing world.
Talking to the newsmen, here on Sunday, he said that thousands of small and medium enterprises situated in and around the city are engaged in honouring their global commitments for export of value-added quality goods like gloves, musical instruments, martial arts uniforms, cutlery and military uniform badges.
He said that the entrepreneurs who always focus all their energies and attention in quest of the best in combination with the incomparable expertise and skill of the local workers are exporting the highest quality products to the entire global market.
The century-old history of sporting goods and surgical industry has seen the industries developed to the highest international standards mainly due to business wisdom and natural sense of the entrepreneurs towards export. Other industrial sectors of Sialkot are also following the same trend.
The products standards being of exceptional quality are meant for markets of developed economics not affordable even for domestic markets, which is under developed. It is unique for Sialkot that everything produced here is exported.
SCCI's president said that Sialkot's field hockey sticks and cricket bats are used in all international games including the Olympics and World Cups.
It is the distinction of Sialkot that the hand-stitched soccer balls made here are played in World Soccer Cups, European Championships and other cups as well.
The best cricket and hockey players of the world prefer to use cricket bats and hockey sticks made of Sialkot which has made Sialkot a household name all over the world. Most of the developed countries are importing surgical instruments from Sialkot for the export purpose under their own brand name.
In leather products and textiles sportswear Sialkot compete with other garments. Sialkot is winning the best export trophy award in this sector since 14 years.
Dr Khurram Anwar Khawaja said that the industrialists and exporters accepted the challenges of compliance to quality standard with extraordinary determination, which is proved by the fact that majority of ISO certified companies in Pakistan belongs to Sialkot.
For smoother operations in the products and exports, the exporters are ensuring compliance with environment and social standards and adopting security measures as required by the valued foreign customers' countries in quality and style.
Similar is the case with other items produced in Sialkot. The export oriented industrial sector of Sialkot is earning foreign exchange of one billion dollars annually, which is an exceptional achievement considering the small size and population of the city.
It is worth mentioning that because of the SMEs culture developed at Sialkot, per capita income of the people is much higher than any other part of Pakistan.
He said that the bank loan and tax default rate in Sialkot is practically zero percent which is clear proof of the prudence and responsible attitude of the businessmen in their business dealings, may it be with the foreign customers, the bank or revenue department.
SCCI's president said that the best export trophy awards in sporting goods, surgical and musical instruments have always gone to Sialkot based companies and due to extraordinary export performance in leather the exporters largely have succeeded in meeting the compliance standard of foreign buyers under WTO but need the support of developed countries to enter and operate in the WTO regime well prepared and in a more organised manner.
The business success of Sialkot is a self reliance phenomenon, which has been made possible due to selfless efforts, dedication and commitment of the exporters in Sialkot who travel all around the world to fetch business and supply products to the entire satisfaction of the foreign buyers, he said.
Besides, exceptional achievement in business, the corporate sector in Sialkot is fully vigilant to its role towards social sector and has played significant role in that regard on 'Do it Yourself' basis, which is now culture of Sialkot.
He said that it is due to this approach of self-reliance that the exporters of Sialkot have initiated and completed many city development and human welfare projects.
Every foreign buyer visiting Sialkot appreciates that the exporters through dedication and resolute efforts have enhanced the image of Pakistan in the international markets and have won laurels for the country and for them in business and social sector.
The Sialkot City development and human welfare projects initiated by the business community of Sialkot speak the volume of dedication of SCCI, in which this chamber has played a central role.
Sialkot Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCI) was established in 1982. At present, more than 5,000 members representing various industries are enlisted with the chamber.
Sialkot district having population of around 3.3 million has a dry port established by the private sector since 1984. This chamber initiated this project.
In a unique move, Sialkot City package programme was initiated by the Sialkot Chamber in collaboration with other trade bodies. Under the programme, the exporters of Sialkot voluntarily contributed 0.25 percent against their exports to change the face of the city. Main arteries of the city have been constructed and work on remaining road is in progress.
Pakistan's second export processing zone (EPZ) is set up in Sialkot. The zone offers exceptional incentives for the investors and thus is an excellent opportunity for both local and foreign investors.
The role of local business community for developing of the city and welfare of the people needs no introduction. The said projects along with Programme from Soccer Ball and Surgical Industry, Universal Primary Education Programme, Sialkot Tannery Zone etc, speak volumes of the socially responsible attitude of the business community, he further added.