November 05, 2006	Sunday	Shawwal 12, 1427

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SIALKOT, Nov 4: The Sialkot Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCI) and Pakistan Sports Goods Manufacturers and Exporters Association (PSGMEA) have jointly established a “Sports Industry Development Trust” in Sialkot to deal with the threat of mechanised balls faced by local hand-stitched soccer ball manufacturers and exporters.

SCCI president Sheikh Abdul Waheed Sandal and senior vice-president Dr Sarfraz Bashir told reporters here on Saturday that the local export-oriented soccer ball industry had been supporting over 100,000 stitchers and other industrial workers.

They said that this industry was now facing the global challenge of mechanised soccer balls production under the WTO regime.

During the last five years, they said that China, Vietnam and Thailand had come up with the improved version of mechanized soccer balls which were used in Euro Cup 2004 and World Cup 2006.

They said the SCCI, PSGMEA and manufacturers and exporters of hand-stitched soccer balls had joined hands on the project to safeguard the Sialkot’s soccer ball industry.

So far several companies had pledged to join the trust with a contribution of Rs100,000 each, they said.

This trust would have a strong research and development (R&D) section for developing and introducing other non-traditional sports goods and accessories which could be produced in the country and marketed around the world, they said.