SME sector of Sialkot needs special incentives

Sialkot, which is a hub of cottage industries and export-oriented city of Pakistan. It has developed a remarkable export culture over the period and contributing more than 1.30 billion dollars to the national exchequer annually. Despite of serious financial constrains and electricity crisis the exporter community is trying its utmost for doubling the export volume despite of tough competition in the world market for fetching valuable foreign exchange for the country.
Undoubtedly, the Small and Medium Enterprise (SMEs) were playing a significant role not only in strengthening the national exchequer but also providing employment to thousands workers in Sialkot. In order to develop true and secure "Small and Medium Culture" of Sialkot the government should formulate a special package of incentives and concessions for SMEs of the area for increasing the export volume to manifolds and to redress their problems.
The development of cottage industries in Sialkot has assumed a model status for the developing world. The city is sprinkled with thousands of small and medium enterprises, which are engaged in honouring their global commitments for export of valve-added quality goods such as sports goods, surgical instruments, leather goods, gloves, badges and musical instruments etc.
The city has developed industrial edge over other cities of the country, especially in sports goods and surgical instruments. Many researchers of different foreign universities are considering conducting research on the unique export culture of Sialkot, which is a hub of cottage industries and export-oriented city of Pakistan. The business community of Sialkot is playing a tremendous role not only in bringing boom in exports but also fulfilling the social responsibilities and the uplift of the city on voluntarily basis.
Over 85 percent of total production of soccer ball of the world comes from Sialkot while all international brands are sourcing their supply of footballs from this export-oriented city and hub of cottage industry of the country. The success story of Sialkot based industries can be attributed to unmatched skill of local workers and their craftsmanship.
For the construction of city roads and drains, Sialkot Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCI) initiated Sialkot City Package in collaboration of other trade bodies in the city. Under the programme exporters are voluntarily contributing 0.25 percent against their export invoices as a result of which many city roads and drains have been constructed.
The mega project of Sialkot International Airport has become operational which has been constructed by the local business community on the basis of Build, Operate and Own (BOO) basis costing over Rs 2 billion. Provincial government should take drastic steps for setting up SMEs industrial estate in major economic hubs of the Punjab enabling SMEs to establish their units in these proposed industrial estates.