SIALKOT, Feb 2: Pakistan Sports Goods Manufacturers and Exporters Association (PSGMEA) chairman Prof Sheikh Safdar Sandal has urged the government to provide funds for research and development of sports goods industries.

Addressing a press conference at a local hotel on Friday, he said football makers and exporters were in dire need of advanced manufacturing technology for meeting the global challenges.

He demanded a special package of incentives for the industry.

Prof Sandal said raise in POL prices have increased the cost of production, making it very hard for the exporters to compete with India, China, Thailand, Taiwan and other countries.

He said the production of ‘thermosolded’ inflatable football was posing a great threat to our industry which was stitching footballs. He said Sialkot produced around 56 million footballs and earned more than $210 million during the fiscal year ended on June 30, 2006.

UPLIFT PACKAGE: The chief minister has released special grant of Rs3 billion to Sialkot district government for the uplift of bordering villages of Chawinda and Pasrur.

Punjab Minister for Power Armughan Subhani stated this while talking to newsmen at Pasrur on Friday.

Unveiling the package, he said the provincial government would soon establish four new degree colleges, three intermediate colleges besides upgrading more than 100 government educational institutions. It would also build one stadium in Pasrur tehsil, he added.

Mr Subhani said under this project, drainage schemes would be completed in 81 villages while 250 kilometres long roads would be widened and reconstructed.

He said that vocational training institution, sewerage schemes, streetlights, workers welfare schools for boys and girls and a social security hospital would also be established in Chawinda besides upgrading the rural health center.

HBFC OFFICE: The newly established HBFC district office was inaugurated here on Friday.