Sialkot is the only export-oriented city in Pakistan where 99 percent items produced are exported to various parts of the globe. Through export, Sialkot-based small and medium industries are earning foreign exchange amounting to over one billion dollars yearly thereby strengthening the national exchequer.
Sialkot-made footballs, field hockey sticks, cricket gear, and boxing gloves are used in international games including the Olympics and World Cups. It may be mentioned that surgical and sports goods industries are the oldest industries which are playing tremendous role not only in strengthening the national economy but also in providing employment opportunities to hundreds of industrial workers.
Most of the developed countries are importing surgical instruments from Sialkot, and everyday hundreds of surgeries are performed around the world by surgeons using the instruments made in Sialkot. Thus, Sialkot-made instruments are playing a silent but significant role in healing of wounds and fighting disease world-wide.
Surgical instruments manufacturers are producing about 100 million instruments annually and the industry is producing disposables which constitute 60 percent of the exports and reusable instruments which is 40 percent of the exports. The industry has been producing surgical instruments, dental instruments, veterinary, pedicure and manicure, tailor scissors, barber saloon and beauty saloon scissors.
Almost 74 percent production of surgical is sold to ten different countries of which 29 percent to USA, 14 percent Germany and 9 percent United Kingdom and remaining 26 percent to rest of the world. Surgical industry is enjoying monopolistic position because no other can produce surgical instruments in price range and variety and able to manufacture at most economical rates.
There is great need of a 'Separate Business Strategy' for Sialkot, keeping in view its unique export culture and craftsmanship, enabling it to play a significant role in earning maximum foreign exchange for the country. Despite several internal problems like power crisis and law and order situation the local exporters and manufacturers are fulfilling their international commitments to keep the national economic wheel in full motion and compete global market.
President of Sialkot Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCI) Muhammad Ishaq Butt while expressing his views about the industrial needs for bringing radical change in industrial sector of the city underscored the need of formulation of a separate business plan for Sialkot for enhancing the productivity and bringing innovation in products.
The industrial technology has improved the production line world-wide but due to lack of funds and government support our industrial sector was lagging behind and without the support and co-operation of the government the tracking of the local industrial sector on modern lines is impossible he said.
The timely support of the government will not only help in modernisation of local industrial sector but will be supportive in enhancing the export volume to manifolds, he said. Ishaq said: "It is our national duty that we should think positively and play our significant role in bringing out the country from economic crisis and work together for economic uplift of the country".