April 8, 2003	Tuesday	Safar 5, 1424

SIALKOT, April 7: The World Federation of Sporting Goods Industry (WFSGI) has offered cooperation and technical assistance for boosting the soccer ball industry.

WFSGI secretary general Andre Gorgemans while addressing a meeting of local businessmen at Sialkot Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCI) on Monday, also declared Sialkot’s soccer ball industry as “child labour free.”

Mr Gorgemans said it was a fact that under the ILO-monitored programme, child labour had completely been removed from Sialkot soccer ball industry and these children had been placed in the schools.

SCCI’s acting president Muhammad Sadiq Goraya said that despite child labour propaganda, Sialkot still maintained around 70 per cent share of world’s hand stitched balls.