Federal government is actively considering establishing Product Development Centre (PDC) for composite based sports goods in Sialkot and work on this proposed project would be carried out in near future.
Official sources on Friday told Business Recorder that the basic concept of setting up PDC was to enable sports goods industry to cope with the emerging technology of composite material. Sialkot is known globally as a major player of producing of quality products of sports goods and sportswear etc and local craftsmen produce immaculate products while export oriented entrepreneurs ensure that products reach international destinations. Over 200,000 workers were engaged directly or indirectly with export activities while this export-oriented city was earning more than US two billion dollars through its exports.
The composites have replaced previous material and eventually declined in price to widely affordable levels. The wood was only material for manufacturing of tennis racket had now been totally outclassed by new high performance materials. Tubular steel and aluminium rackets came into vogue in early 1970, which were lighter than wood, were unaffected by the weather and offered more potential power in the swing. With the passage of time composite rackets were introduced in late seventies and changed everything and composite rackets become available at all but the lowest price and wood made rackets virtually disappeared.
The proposed PDC will help and enable local industry to aggressively enter into the international market of composite based sports goods. The sports industry sector of Sialkot was already enjoying strong linkages with international sports goods brands which would help in marketing of these products.
The proposed PDC will provide technical know-how, trained labour force, test facilities and prototype development services to the sports industry. Service like facilitate in increasing exports of composite based sports goods, prototype production, provide skilled workforce to the industry, product testing, help develop imported machinery locally and enhance productivity by providing technical consultancy service to new and existing industrial units. The regular functioning of PDC in this export-hub will enable the businessmen and manufactures to produce composite material based sports goods and to cope with new challenges of the international market, the sources said.