SIALKOT, Nov 24: Various trade organizations have pledged to work in liaison for pulling the local football industry out of stagnation. The hand-stitched soccer ball manufacturers have been facing a tough time owing to introduction of mechanized ball manufacturing at the global level in the post-WTO regime.

The Federation of International Football Association, the International Labour Organization, the World Federation of Sports Goods Industry, the International Programme on the Elimination of Child Labour and the Sialkot Chamber of Commerce and Industry, which had signed an agreement in 1997 to work for the promotion of the football industry, renewed their commitment at a high-level meeting the other day.

Mr Federico Addiechi, head of FIFA’s corporate social responsibility, and representatives of other trade bodies announced technical, financial and moral support to boost the soccer ball industry.

The foreign experts appreciated the Sialkot business community for its efforts to eliminate child labour, stressing that the project should be extended to other parts of the world.