Exports of leather goods, sports goods, gloves, surgical instruments, sportswear and knives from the Pakistani city of Sialkot grew 11.04% to Rs 687.22 million (US$11.9 million) in 2002, the Sialkot Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCI) has advised.
As Pakistan currently earns US$600 million through the export of leather products, the Sialkot government is trying to promote and modernise its leather industry and has established a leather products development institute in the city. The institute cost Rs26 million (US$450,606) to open and was funded by the Export Development Fund (EDF).
The government also plans to open leather stitching centres at Sialkot, Gujranwala and Gujrat to satisfy the growing market for locally produced leather goods in the US and Europe. (see leatherbiz.com story, Punjab leather stitching centres to improve exports, 29.01.03).
The area’s export industry will also benefit from the opening of the Sialkot International Airport in 2005 as it will reduce the logistical problems suffered by exporters in Silakot, Gujranwala and Gujrat. By the end of 2015 the government estimates that in excess of 53,000 tonnes of cargo per year will be exported from the airport.
The SCCI has initiated the development of the Sialkot City Package Programme to improve the city’s road infrastructure and drainage system. Under the programme, Sialkot exporters are voluntarily contributing 0.25% of their export turnover and have so far managed to raise Rs 180 million (US$3.1 million).
