Sialkot is the only export-oriented city in Pakistan where 99 percent products produced are exported to various parts of the globe. Through export, Sialkot based small and medium industries were earning foreign exchange at least over one billion dollars yearly and strengthening the national exchequer.
The self-reliance attitude of corporate sector in Sialkot is unique in the country. They have initiated a number of projects in the city for its development and welfare of the people.
Sialkot made footballs, field hockey sticks, cricket gear and boxing gloves were 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 were playing tremendous role not only in strengthening national economy, but also in providing employment opportunities to hundreds industrial workers.
Most of the developed countries were importing surgical instruments from Sialkot. Hundreds of surgeries were performed around the world by surgeons using the instruments made in Sialkot. Thus Sialkot made instruments were playing a silent, but significant role in healing of wounds and fighting disease world-wide.
Surgical manufacturers were producing about 100 million instruments annually and industry was producing disposable, which constitutes 60 percent of the exports and reusable instruments, which was 40 percent of the exports. The industry was producing surgical instruments, dental instruments, veterinary, pedicure and manicure, tailor scissors, barber and beauty saloon scissors.
Almost 74 percent production of surgical was being 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 was enjoying monopolistic position because no other can produce surgical instruments in price range and variety and able to manufacture at most economical rate
There is a great need of a "Separate Business Strategy" for Sialkot keeping in view its unique export culture and craftsmanship enabling it plays 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 were fulfilling their international commitments to keep the national economic wheel in full motion and compete global market.
President Sialkot Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCI) Muhammad Ishaq Butt while expressing his viewpoint about the industrial needs for bringing radical change in industrial sector of the city he 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 it will be supportive in enhancing the export volume to manifolds, he said.
Ishaq Butt further said that it was our national duty that we should think positively and play their instrument role in bringing out the country from economic crisis and work together for economic uplift of the country.