May 10, 2002	Friday	Safar 26, 1423

PARIS, May 9: Smoby, which is one of France’s two leading toy manufacturers, says it is increasingly concerned over its interests in Pakistan. The company’s expression of concern was made before Wednesday’s attack in Karachi on a busload of French engineers.

Smoby chairman Jean-Christophe Breuil says he’s seriously concerned these days over what is happening in Pakistan, and notably in Kashmir, as reports indicate that the escalation of conflict in Kashmir could very well affect operation of Smoby’s interests.

For Mr Breuil, the concern comes at a time when Smoby factories in Pakistan are manufacturing the souvenir footballs that his company will soon be distributing around the world.

Smoby recently signed an accord with the World Football Federation — FIFA — which gives his company exclusive world rights to distribute the souvenir footballs that will be issued to mark the World Football Cup matches that are to begin in Japan and South Ksorea later this month.

Only a few weeks ago, Smoby sent a delegation to visit the factories in Pakistan where the footballs are manufactured to ascertain that no children were being used to make the footballs which bear the logo associated with this year’s World Cup match.