Sialkot, a city commonly known as the home of sports goods in Pakistan, has yet again made headlines after it was revealed that the city will be supplying footballs for the upcoming FIFA World Cup in 2018.
This is not the first time Sialkot has supplied sports goods for international events. In the editions of the FIFA World Cup, Pakistan-made footballs were used during qualifiers and practice matches as well.
This year’s World Cup will be held in Russia – Alexey Dedov, the Russian Ambassador to Pakistan said that the 2018 FIFA World Cup matches will use footballs manufactured in Sialkot.
He said:
Pakistan is one of the most renowned countries in the world in the manufacture of sport equipment. We want to enhance our cooperation with Pakistan to other sectors as well.
Sialkot has already been a major internationally recognized sports equipment supplier.
This should motivate the government to formalize all the manufacturing of the sports goods in Sialkot and improve the exports.
Currently, the manufacturers are facing a number of issues and it should be the state’s responsibility to resolve all of them and improve the image of Pakistan on international stage.
