SIALKOT - The pace of development work on the Sports Industries Development Centre (SIDC) has been geared up that would be completed at a cost of Rs435.64 million.
The SIDC is expected to start its operations in the middle of this year. Official sources told TheNation on Thursday that the concept of setting up the SIDC in this export-oriented city and hub of cottage industry of the country was to extend new technology of mechanised ball which was a threat to hand stitched inflatable
soccer ball industry of Sialkot. The centre will help sports goods sector to adopt new technology of mechanized “thermo laminated” balls by providing training, common facilities and technical advisory services along with mould machinery services.
The project will facilitate in sustaining Pakistanis position in international market of inflatable balls in general and soccer balls in particular through development of prototype balls for industry, training of skilled workers in mould, rubber technologies, mechanised thermo laminated balls, provision of manufacturing facilities for SMEs, development of quality vulcanisation and pasting moulds, development of imported machinery locally through reverse engineering and provision of assistance in setting up mechanised ball production line individual industrial units.
The SIDC project was initiated by federal government to address the problems of soccer ball industry of Sialkot besides its modernization.
The sports goods industry was confronting with a serious threat in the form of thermo moulded ball that uses medium end technology to produce a ball having most of characteristics of hand stitched ball. Sialkot is catering 85 per cent of the total world demand of hand stitched inflatable balls that means 60 million balls annually.


The regular functioning of SIDC would enable the soccer ball manufacturers to cope with the new challenges and trends in the international market as well as this project would enhance the capacity and competitiveness of football industry in the field of mechanized balls while help other industries to on modern lines.
It may be added that Sports Industries Development Centre is a joint initiative of ministry of production, SMEDA (Small and Medium Enterprise Development Authority) and Sialkot Chamber of Commerce and Industry.
Meanwhile, the contract has been awarded by SMEDA to successful bidder Al-Tuwairqi Stell Mills for supplying machinery and equipment as well as transfer of technology for manufacturing of 3500 thermo laminated balls (soccer ball, volley balls and basketballs per 8 hours shift to Sports Industries Development Centre (SIDC).
President Sialkot Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCI) Naeem Anwar Qureshi while expressing his views said that award of contract would plan instrumental role in completing the long awaited project of SIDC.
The project would help sports goods sector to apot new technology of mechanized thermo laminated balls by providing training, common facilities and technical advisory services along with mould machinery services, he said, adding that the SIDC would assist the industry to cope with challenges of product development as well as ensure capacity and competitiveness of local industry in the field of mechanized balls.