Sialkot is important economic hub and only export-oriented city in Pakistan where 99 percent products produced and are exported to various parts of the glob. Through export, Sialkot based small and medium industries were earning foreign exchange amounting over 2 billion US dollars yearly and strengthening the national exchequer.
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 the national economy but also in providing employment opportunities to hundreds industrial workers. The distinction of Sialkot that the hand stitched soccer-balls made here are played in international matches.
Most of the developed countries were importing surgical instruments from Sialkot and everyday, 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.
There is great need of a "Separate Business Strategy" for Sialkot keeping in view its unique export culture and craftsmanship enabling it play significant role in earning maximum foreign exchange for the country. Despite several internal problems exporters and manufacturers were fulfilling their international commitments to keep the national economic wheel in full motion and compete in global market.
But need special attention for upgrading industrial sector for tracking industrial sector on modern production lines for bringing radical change and need of formulation of a separate business plan for Sialkot for enhancing the productivity and bringing innovation in products to cope with the challenges of international market. The industrial technology has improved the production line world-wide but due to lack of funds and government support local industrial sector was lagging behind and without the support and cooperation of the government the tracking of the local industrial sector on modern lines is impossible. In addition to this there was a need of setting up of training institutions for producing skilled and semi skilled work force for the industrial sector of Sialkot because currently the industrial sector was facing acute shortage of trained labour. The timely support of the government will not only help in modernisation of local industrial sector but it will also help in enhancing the export volume to many folds.