Business activities are increasing every passing day in this export-oriented city due to forthcoming Cricket World Cup. According to available statistics of International Trade Centre, sports goods amounting to 219 million dollars were exported during 2013-14 from Sialkot to different countries of the world.
Sialkot is an important economic centre in Pakistan where 99 percent items produced are exported to various parts of the world. Thousands of small and medium enterprises situated in and around the city are engaged in honouring their international commitments for export of value-added quality goods.
Through export, Sialkot-based small and medium industries were earning foreign exchange amounting over US 1.8 billion dollars annually to strengthen the national exchequer. The city is not only famous in producing quality sports goods but also for producing international players of cricket and hockey while Sialkot made footballs, field hockey sticks, cricket gear and boxing gloves were used in international games including the Olympics and World Cups matches.
Sports goods and surgical industries are the oldest industries which were playing tremendous role not only in strengthening national economy but also in providing employment opportunities to hundreds of industrial workers. It may be mentioned that renowned local firm "CA Sports" has the credit to produce kit for Pakistan Cricket team for the Cricket World Cup 2015 which is an honour for the people of Sialkot. Director CA Sports Zahid Javed told Business Recorder on Tuesday that it was our credit that we had produced kit for Pakistan cricket team World Cup 2007, T-20 Cups in 2010 and 2012. Zahid disclosed that the demand of cricket gear of domestic and international customers were increasing rapidly. We have prepared kit for Pakistan Cricket team for Cricket World Cup in six months and the new kit is the combination and modification of the previous World Cup (2007), he said. Apart from this, many national and international cricket batsmen are playing with our cricket bats, which is a great achievement and its impact on exports of sports good will be a positive sign, he said.
Zahid said that if provided with necessary facilities and enabling environment, the sports goods industry has the potential and capability to hugely enhance exports in order to increase earning of foreign exchange. Meanwhile, President Sialkot Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCI) Fazal Jilani while expressing his viewpoint said there is a great need of a "Separate Business Strategy" for Sialkot keeping in view its unique export culture and craftsmanship. The industrial technology has improved the production line world-wide but due to lack of funds and the 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. Timely support and co-operation of the government will pave the way for bringing radical changes in local industrial sector.