In order to make vibrant economic activities and industrial development there was a great need of setting up more small industrial estates in this export-oriented city and hub of cottage industry of the country.
The Punjab government should take initiatives for the development of industrial estates along with Sialkot-Daska, Sialkot-Sambrial and Sialkot-Pasrur roads to facilitate the exporter community of the area. The government should also take steps for establishing Special Economic Zone (SEZ) for further accelerating the pace of export activities in the area.
Most of the exporters and manufactures and trade bodies' representatives while talking to Business Recorder on Sunday said that the establishment of new estates would be much supportive in reducing the pressure on existing small industrial estate Sialkot as well as provide employment opportunities to the industrial workers at their doorstep that will stop rapid rural migration towards city. Currently a large number of industrial workers belonging to Pasrur, Narowal, Zafarwal, Daska and Sambrial are coming daily to Sialkot for their employment purposes and according to a rough estimate thousands skilled and semi skilled workers were engaged with local industries like soccer ball, surgical instruments, leather, gloves and martial art uniforms manufacturing etc.
The most of SMEs were doing their business in residential area of the city due to lack of proper business locality and the setting up new estates would not only accommodate the SMEs but also vending industry. The functioning of industrial units in residential areas creating certain problems for the dwellers as well as creating serious envionmental issues.
The vending industry is an integral part of export industry and there was a need of providing proper place for further accelerating the business activities in this export city but also accommodating the vending industry.
Punjab Small Industries Corporation (PSIC) should select suitable land for the development of new industrial estates at earliest possible. There was a rapid development of Garments and Sportswear industries in Sialkot but textile industry was confronting with severe shortage of trained skill labour. There was an immediate need of setting up of "Training Institute" for producing skilled industrial workers according to local industrial needs
Local trade bodies have urged upon the government that Sialkot should be declared Export Processing Zone (EPZ) for a considerable increase in export volume. Sialkot is a hub of cottage industry and totally export-oriented city of Pakistan that earning over US 2.50 billion dollars through its exports annually.
In addition to this Vending industry is an integral part of export industry and there was a need of two to three industrial estates in Sialkot not only for further accelerating the business activities for accommodating the vending industry.
At present there is only one small industrial estate in Sialkot and there is immediate need of a well planned small industrial estate with necessary infrastructure because new industrial estate is important to cater the need of small, medium and micro level industry of Sialkot.