URBAN ECONOMICS

ASSIGNMENT

SIALKOT AT A
GLANCE

SAFIA ASLAM
APPLIED ECONOMICS RESEARCH
CENTER
2013-14
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Population of Sialkot district in 1981: 1,802,505
Population of Sialkot district in 1998: 2,723,481
Male: 1396532
Female: 1326949
Current Estimated Population: 3,727,783
Area: 3,016 km
Density: 903/km
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Literacy rate: 59%
Urban population: 26.19%
Rural population: 73.81%
Coordinates: 322950N 743210E
City Website: www.sialkot.gov.pk
Calling code: 052
Main industries: Sports goods, surgical
instruments, leather products
POPULATION, ITS DENSITY AND LAND AREA
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46
54
DEPENDENT LABOR FORCE
0-4 yrs
5-9 yrs
10-14 yrs
15-19 yrs
20-24 yrs
25-29 yrs
30-34 yrs
35-39 yrs
40-44 yrs
45-49 yrs
50-54 yrs
55-59 yrs
60-64 yrs
65-69 yrs
70+ yrs
females
males
Out of the total population, 51 percent
are males and 49 percent are females.
Largest cohort of population is 5-9 years
with a population of 540,580, which
decreases with 5 years interval. The age
distribution of the districts is such that
except for the age group 20-24, in all
the age groups, male population out
numbers female population.
DEPENDENCY RATIO
POPULATION DISTRIBUTION BY AGE & GENDER


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EDUCATIONAL ATTAINMENT
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6







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DEMOGRAPHIC CHARACTERISTICS
Sialkot (district) has a diverse population of 3,500,000. Punjabi is
the main language of people. The population mainly consists of
Punjabis, Kashmiris and Pashtuns. The population of the Sialkot city
(proper) is about 502,721. Population Density is 1160/km2.
Population Growth Rate is very low as compared to other urban areas
of Pakistan. In 1947, Sialkot was the 6th largest city in Pakistan
(150,000) and in 2009, it is the 13th largest. Major clans
areSulehria, Bajwa, Cheema, Dhillon, Kang, Jatt, Arain, Rajput,
Chughtai, Awan, Kakazai, Butt, Mir, Sharif, Sheikh, Gujar, Pathan
(Pashtun origin), Mughal and Qureshi. Literacy rate is among the
highest in Pakistan. In urban areas, it is 73% and in rural areas, it
is 54%. Employment in agriculture is only 19.5% and 32% in
elementary occupations. 95% of the population has electricity and
96% have the water facility. Sialkot has also attracted many
labourers and other entrepreneurs many of whom hail from
Pakistan's Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA), notably from
Bajaur and Mohmand agencies who have set up vibrant business
throughout the area.

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LABOUR FORCE PARTICIPATION
Both Sexes
45.1
Males
80.1
Females
12.8
EMPLOYEMENT RATIO

Both Sexes
42.2
Males
74.6
Females
12.3
UNEMPLOYMENT RATES

Both Sexes
6.6
Males
7
Females
4.1
SHARE OF INDUSTRY IN TOATAL EMPLYEMENT

Both Sexes
39.6
Males
42.8
Females
21.2
SHARE OF AGRICULTURE IN TOTAL EMPLOYEMENT

Both Sexes
28.2
Males
23.9
Females
52.4
SHARE OF SERVICE SECTOR IN TOTAL EMPLOYEMENT

Both Sexes
32.2
Males
33.3
Females
26.4
EMPLOYEMENT IN MANUFACTURING

Both Sexes
2.6
Males
4.0
Females
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EMPLOYEMENT STATISTICS OF SIALKOT DISTRICT
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2012 $2800
2010 $2400
2008 $2100



Both Sexes
Highly Skilled 10686
Skilled 8032
Unskilled 8221
Male
Highly Skilled 12679
Skilled 8476
Unskilled 8707
Females
Highly Skilled 7033
Skilled 2883
Unskilled 3855



Average (Rs.) Range
Average Monthly Disposable Salary (After Tax) 22,483.33 18,000.00
30,000.00
Mortgage Interest Rate in Percentages (%), Yearly 15.00 14.00
16.00



WAGES OF EMPLOYES IN MAJOR SECTROS 2009-10
SALARIES AND FINANCING
PER CAPITA INCOME
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RENT PER MONTH Average(Rs.) Range(Rs.)
Apartment (1 bedroom) in City Centre 15,556.67 11,670.00
20,000.00
Apartment (1 bedroom) Outside of Centre 11,575.00 9,725.00
15,000.00
Apartment (3 bedrooms) in City Centre 44,541.67 25,000.00
60,000.00
Apartment (3 bedrooms) Outside of Centre 26,437.50 20,000.00
35,000.00
BUY APARTMENT PRICE Average(Rs.) Range(Rs.)
Price per Square Meter to Buy Apartment in
City Centre
77,986.17 55,972.33
100,000.00
Price per Square Meter to Buy Apartment
Outside of Centre
52,604.21 45,208.42
60,000.00
HOUSING VALUES
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Crimes Ensuring Physical
Harm
Cases 116
no of share in total 0.30%
Crimes against Property
Cases 61
no of share in total 0.20%
Threats and Frauds
Cases 12
no of share in total 0.00%
Crimes against Women
Cases 3
no of share in total 0.00%
Other
Cases 914
no of share in total 2.30%
Total
Cases 1106
no of share in total 2.80%







CRIME RATES
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1. Environment

1.2. Climate

Sialkot experiences significant seasonal variations in temperature with the average
monthly temperature varying from 11.6oC in January to 32.2oC in June with an
average temperature over the coldest three months of the year of about 12.7oC,
rather lower than Lahore.

The mean annual rainfall is 957mm, over half of which falls in the summer monsoon
months of July and August which often results in flooding. Sialkot has one of the
most modern weather forecasting and flood warning centers in the country, which
is fully equipped to record and transfer data to and from the relevant concerns.
This facility is equipped with radar and is internationally linked.

1.3. Geography

Lying between 32 30 north latitude and 74 30 east longitudes at 256 meters
above sea level, Sialkot is bounded on the north by Jammu, on the northwest by
Gujrat, on the west by Gujranwala and on the south by Narowal. The city is located
in a fertile agricultural basin with a few low hills, including the hilly area called the
Fort, now occupied by the TMA administration.

1.4. Hydrology

Sialkot is situated in the Upper Rachna Doab, which is bounded by the Ravi and
Chenab rivers. It sits over abundant shallow and deep groundwater aquifers which
are used by both the city water supply system and inhabitants with wells for their
water supplies. The Chenab River flows to the northwest of Sialkot, and the
Marala- Ravi Link Canals flow to the west. Sialkot is traversed by three seasonal
streams, comprising Aik Nala, to the south of the city, Bhaid Nala, between the
Cantonment and the rest of the city, and Pahlu Nala, north of the Cantonment. The
general slop of the land within the Doab is to the south-west and the area is an
HOW SIALKOT IS DIFFERENT FROM OTHER CITIES?
13

active flood plain, although floods are to a large extent controlled by irrigation and
power generation works carried out on the Indian side of the border.
1.5. Geology and Ecology

Geology - the area is underlain by Pleistocene deposits to a depth of several
thousand meters. The first 200metres of these deposits consist of approximately
70% silty sand interspersed with limited clay layers. The strata are generally
heterogeneous with little vertical or lateral continuity. The historic centre of
Sialkot is located between two seasonal watercourses, the Bhaid Nullah and the Aik
Nullah. It occupies land that is elevated up to about 10 meters above the
surrounding areas. Apart from the central area, the city is generally flat. Overall,
there is an east to west fall, from around 253 meters in the east to about 245
meters in the west, an average fall of about 1 in 1000.

Ecology - the Sialkot District has been a part of the ecological zone called thorn
forest but with the introduction of extensive irrigation network of canals for
development of agriculture, industrial development and urbanization has changed
its biological features. Most of the part of the district is now agriculture zone
with human related or human dependent fauna and flora and for the most part of
the district is now an agricultural zone.

About 2.17 % of the total area of the district is under human forest plantation of
trees of economic importance like Shisham, Keeker, Mulberry that are used in
construction and making sports goods and furniture. Other introduced species are
Mesquite an invasive species and Safeda Sheesham Bohar and Bakain are also seen
in and around the urban areas. The district Sialkot is the host of a variety of flora.
The indigenous tress are Lasoora, Bairy, Siris, Keeker, Phali, Khajoor, Toot and
Paper Mulberry These are commonly found along the edges of agricultural fields.
About 54 km2 of the Bajwat region in the Sialkot District is the Bajwat Game
Reserve. About 16 km2 of the area around Marala Headworks is also protected
within the game reserve and is of considerable importance for wintering waterfowl.
Fortunately, from a planning perspective all development activities foreseen under
PCIIP will be far away from these environmentally sensitive areas and will
therefore not be adversely affected by any of the proposed interventions.



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2. Urban Socio-economy

Sialkot is located close to the Indian border some 125 km north of Lahore. It is a
major industrial centre, specializing in leather products, surgical instruments,
diesel engines, pharmaceuticals, steel rolling mills, textiles and sports goods.

There are at least 264 tanneries, 244 leather garment producing units, 900
leather sports goods producing units, 57 rice husking mills and 14 flour mills in the
city. These industries produce significant quantities of highly polluted wastewater.

2.1. Population and Demography

The population of the Sialkot city (Ex MC area and Cantonment) is estimated to be
about 550418 with an average population density of around 1160/km2. Historically
the population growth rate at an average of 2.5% is relatively low compared to
other urban areas of Pakistan. This is illustrated by the fact that in 1941, Sialkot
was the 6th largest city in Pakistan (150,000) and in 1998 it was the 13th largest
City. The population mainly consists of Punjabis, Kashmiris and Pashtuns and Punjabi
is the main language of people. Sialkot has also attracted many laborers and other
entrepreneurs many of whom hail from Pakistan's Federally Administered Tribal
Areas (FATA), notably from Bajaur and Mohmand who have set up vibrant business
throughout the area and the literacy rate is among the highest in Pakistan at 73%
in urban areas and 54% in rural areas and employment in agriculture is only 19.5%
and 32% in elementary occupations.







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2.2. Economy
The Per Capita Income of Sialkot in 2012 is $2800, which was $2400 in 2010 and
$2100 in 2008. Sialkot is the fourth largest economic hub in Punjab after Lahore,
Faisalabad and Gujranwala. It is commercially linked with the Lahore Stock
Exchange through its Sialkot branch, known as the Sialkot Trading Floor (STF).
The State Bank of Pakistan and the Export Promotion Bureau of Pakistan has
branch offices in Sialkot. After Karachi, Sialkot is Pakistan's second largest
source of foreign exchange earnings through its exports and remittances from the
overseas manpower. For the past several decades, the manufacturers and
exporters of the city have been awarded the annual National Exports Award by the
Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry. Sialkot has an
Industrial Estate and an Export Processing Zone. Another Export Processing Zone
is planned along the Sialkot Lahore Motorway. The per capita income of Sialkot is
ranked among the highest in Pakistan.
The history of industrialization of Sialkot is very old. The Damascene craftsmen of
Sialkot (koftgars or koftars) were famous during the Mughal era for their fine
swords and daggers. Papermaking in Sialkot dates back to the time of the Mughal
Emperor Akbar which was famous all over the world. Brick making was another
historic skill of the people of the Sialkot and those bricks were known as the
"Sialkoti Bricks" throughout South Asia. Most of the states in the South Asian
region relied on the slender but strong Sialkoti brickslanateer for the erection of
forts, castles, monuments, public buildings, infrastructure construction, etc.
Sialkot is the world's largest producer of hand-sewed footballs, with local
factories manufacturing 40~60 million footballs a year, amounting to roughly 70%
of world production. There is a well-applied child labor ban, the Atlanta
Agreement, in the industry since a 1997 outcry. During the colonial era British
India's first bagpipe works opened in the city, today there are 20 pipe bands in
the city. Sialkot is also providing Dental Instruments, Surgical Instruments, Beauty
Instruments and other all sorts of Hospital Equipments. Other important
industries in Sialkot include Leather Tanneries, Leather Garments, Musical
Instruments, Surgical and Dental Instruments, Sportswear including Martial arts
wear, Gloves, Badges, Seat and Walking Sticks, Cutlery, Hunting Knives, Air guns
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and Shotguns. These are all export-oriented businesses and earn billions of dollars
every year in foreign exchange. There are several other allied industries which are
working day and night as vendors for the automobile industry of Pakistan. Sialkot
has also a rich tradition of producing wooden and steel furniture, rubber products,
cooking utensils, bicycles, their tires and tubes and shoes.



1. Urban Development

1.1. Urbanization Historical Growth Patterns

Around the year 1797 AD, Sialkot was a small settlement centered on the Fort just north
of Aik Nullah. Over the next 100 years it expanded slightly to the north, and a railway was
constructed which crosses the city from east to west. After partition in the year 1947
the city began to expand, mainly towards the north, as the Cantonment became more
significant, and also towards the north-west in the direction of Bhaid Nullah.

By the 1970s, the city had significantly densified and expanded up to Bhaid Nullah, and
substantial development of the area north of Bhaid Nullah, centered around the
Cantonment, had become much more pronounced. More recently, the city has grown in a
westward direction along the major inter-city roads radiating out of Sialkot and along
Defense Road.

1.2. Sialkot City Land Use Patterns

Land uses in Sialkot City are mixed, and in many cases incompatible. Sialkot would benefit
from stronger land use controls, to prevent potentially harmful activities from being
located near residential areas and vice versa. Sialkot has very few green areas or parks,
with the most prominent being Gulshan-e-Iqbal park, off Narowal Road, a park in the
Cantonment and the stadium. There is a need for more open spaces, more space for
industrial activities and a better-defined road network, in both core city and contiguous
areas.

The main land use patterns of Sialkot City are displayed in Figure 3 on the following page.
Eleven arterial roads radiate out from the Sialkot City centre and link it with surrounding
agricultural areas, other cities and Sialkot International Airport which lies about 20 km to
the west of the City Centre.

HOW THE URBAN THEORY APPLIED TO SIALKOT?

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1.3. Industrial Land Uses

Industries have developed in a ribbon pattern along all of the north, west and
south radial roads, as have housing estates. Agricultural communities close to the
roads and to industries are fast becoming urbanised. Whereas industrial land uses
within the central city are scattered throughout the area in Wazirabad Road and in
the small Industries estates along Haji Pura, Daska, Emanabad, Narowal, Defense,
Kullowal roads and north of the Railway Station. Commercial land uses, once
concentrated in the area around the fort, are now found in outlying areas such as
Defense Rd., Paris Rd., Saddar in the Cantonment and along major roads. There are
about 3,000 large, medium and selected small industries in Sialkot District, some located
in the central city areas and many along the arterial roads leading out of the city.
Together, they employ about 22,300 persons. Industries located along Gujranwala Road
include Redo factory, Micro Corporation, Europlus, Saga Sports, Taj Mahal Factory, Phonix
Cutlery, Remix Factory, Tata Sports, Motor Bike Apparel, numerous leather goods
factories, Awan Sports, Taylon Industries, Pakol Industry and many more. Sambrial Road
has significant tanneries along it, particularly between the two canals, east of the Dry
Port. On Pasrur Road, there are mixed land uses along the segment closer to Sialkot urban
area, but there are many rice mills along the outer segments of this road. There are
however no significant developments along Eminabad Road and Zafarwal Road outside urban
limits.

There is an industrial complex in Sambrial, in vicinity of the airport. This includes an
export processing zone, a dry port and a number of industries around it and all along
Wazirabad Road, which passes through Sambrial. These industrial developments, as stated
earlier, are near the airport. An industrial estate for tanneries is also proposed near the
airport. For this purpose, an area of 155 hectares (384 acres) has been acquired.

1.4. Commercial

The city has a number of commercial areas including the area immediately north of the
Fort. In addition to the older, more traditional areas high-end commercial, financial and
related activities have been developed, making the city, once single-centered on the
commercial areas around the fort, now multi-cantered.

1.5. Institutional

Institutional land uses are also prominent, in areas such as Katchary Road, Beetshania
Hospital, Allama Iqbal Memorial Hospital, the WAPDA offices and similar areas.


18












1.6. Open Space

Sialkot has very few green areas or parks, with the most prominent being Gulshan-e- Iqbal
park, off Narowal Road, a park in the Cantonment and the stadium. As the urban population
increases and along with that, urban densities, the need to aspire to setting open space
standards and reserving lands to meet these ambitions, becomes increasingly urgent.

2. Urban Infrastructure

2.1. Water Supply

Sialkots water supply is good by Pakistan standards. There are about 42,000 connections
in the town (39,000 domestic), which serve about 65% of the population within the old
Municipal Corporation limits but only about 35% of the urban population, excluding the
Cantonment. There are approximately 5,500 connections in the Cantonment, covering an
estimated 38,500 people or about 47.5% of the civilian .population of the Cantonment.
The TMA estimates that the existing distribution system covers about 70% of the area
within the pre-2001 municipal limits. The available information on the extent of
distribution mains suggests that the potential coverage within the pre-2001 municipal
limits is close to 100%. The difference between the area and population coverage in this
area suggests that there is scope to make new connections within it. There are currently
no connections outside the pre-2001 municipal limits so there is greater scope for
providing new connections in this area.

2.2. Sewerage, Drainage and Wastewater Disposal

Sialkot is partly sewered and partly served by open and covered drains. The sewers are in
poor condition and blocked in many places. The main system served the centre of the city
and the area to the west, discharging to a 54 diameter trunk sewer along Roras Road.
Sialkot has a fairly well-developed educational infrastructure that comprises a sub-
campus of the Fatima Jinnah Women University, a sub-campus of the Virtual University
of Pakistan, 8 Degree Colleges for Women, 5 Degree Colleges for Men, 2 Cadet Colleges,
6 Commerce Colleges, one Law College, one Medical College, one Homeopathic Medical
College, one Nursing School, one Para- Medical School, one Poly-Technic Institute, with
numerous Inter Colleges, Higher Secondary Schools and over 250 High Schools. The
University of Engineering Sciences and Technology (UEST) was recently established in
collaboration with the Royal Institute of Technology, Sweden on the Sialkot Lahore
Motorway and will also incorporate the development of a Technology Park.

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Unfortunately the main pumping stations serving the city centre system are no longer
operationally effective and as a result much of the wastewater from the city centre is
being discharged via a covered drain.

Two further pumping stations are provided to pump wastewater into the Bhaid Nullah
during monsoon conditions but it appears that these pumping stations are required
infrequently. There is no separate storm system. Roadside drains along main roads are
described as storm drains but actually carry both storm and foul flows.

2.3. Solid Waste Management

Sialkots solid waste management (SWM) system is in a state of disarray. Of the 125,000
tons per year of municipal solid waste generated, only 25 percent enters the municipal
waste system, leaving 75 percent of the population without waste collection. Practically all
municipal waste is either burned, dumped or buried illicitly on vacant land throughout the
city, causing significant environmental damage and posing a health hazard.
3. Transport

3.1. Road Networks

Sialkot is about two hours from Lahore and four hours from Islamabad. Sialkot is linked
with the National Highway N-5 through Gujranwala and Wazirabad. A dual carriage-way is
available between Sialkot and Wazirabad. A new bridge on the Chenab River, called the
Shahbazpur Bridge, is under construction these days which is located to the north-east of
Gujrat. Once completed, it will connect Sialkot to N-5 at Gujrat. The Sialkot Lahore
Motorway (M-11) is also under construction. All the bus and commuter coach stations are
located on the Jail Road. A bus service operated by Daewoo Express is available from
Sialkot to Rawalpindi, Lahore, Gujranwala and Multan

3.2. Public Transport

Recently, public transport has been launched in Sialkot on one route which circle around the
city. SCCI Sialkot Chamber of Commerce & Industry has signed an MOU with American
bus company FOTON to provide air-conditioned local transport to the citizens with CNG
fuel. However main mode of transport within the city at present is the auto rickshaw.
Although no proper taxi service exists in the city, there are many rent-a-car service
outlets.



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3.3. Traffic Management

Although the road network in the city is well developed and recently executed road
improvements carried through joint efforts of Sialkot Chambers of Commerce and
Industry (SCCI) and the Government has resulted in improved road surface conditions in
most of city areas, the main problems lies in traffic management. Road junction layouts,
utilization of road space, absence of pedestrian facilities, uncontrolled road side parking
and absence of enforcement of traffic regulatory control measures result in congestion
and . Additionally, irrespective of the public transit initiative referenced above, public
transport overall is inadequately developed with only two formal bus routes operating in
the city.

3.4. Rail Transport

Sialkot is served by Pakistan Railways through the Sialkot Junction. Sialkot used to be a
junction in the British era with trains leaving for Jammu and Gurdaspur. Plans are under
consideration to open the border for an international train between Sialkot and Jammu.
Express trains to and from Narowal, Lahore, Rawalpindi, Faisalabad, Multan, Bahawalpur
and Karachi are available daily. The Railway station is situated in the centre of the city.
Other suburban train stations are Ugoki and Sambrial.

3.5. Air Transport

Sialkot International Airport is the first-ever private-sector airport of Pakistan
managed by the SIAL consortium. It is located near Sambrial and is noted for
having the longest runway in Pakistan. Direct flights are available from Sialkot
International Airport to Karachi, Islamabad, Abu Dhabi Sharjah & London, Muscat
Kuwait, Dubai & Jeddah. Pakistan International Airlines has plans to start non-stop
flights from Sialkot to Manchester, London & Barcellona & Hajj flights have
started from the Sialkot International Airport last year in 2009. Emirates is also
expected to start flights in mid-2010 to Dubai. Airblue will operate on domestic routes
to Islamabad, Multan and Karachi in mid-2010.

A small Sialkot Cantonment Airport, located in the Sialkot Cantonment, is in use of
the aviation wing of the Pakistan Army. This airport has also been used as a public
airport by PIA for operating a Helicopter service from Sialkot to Islamabad in
1995- 1996.



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3.6. Dry Port

Sialkot Dry Port carries the honour of being the first-ever private-sector dry port in Asia.
It was established in 1986 near Sambrial, about 20 km from the Sialkot city under the
control of the Sialkot Dry Port Trust.




SPORTS INDUSTRY 100,000 WORKERS
SURGICAL INSTRUMENT INDUSTRY 80,000 WORKERS
LEATHER INDUSTRY 30, 000 WORKERS

Sialkot is Pakistan's second largest source of foreign exchange earnings through
its exports and remittances from overseas manpower. It is an export-oriented
city, where development of local cottage industries has assumed a model status for
the developing world. The city is populated by thousands of small and medium-scale
entrepreneurs engaged in production. Among them, three industries are dominant,
i.e., leather goods, surgical goods and sports goods. Almost every item produced in
Sialkot is exported to international markets, due to which Sialkot earns US$1.2
billion in exports annually.
Almost 60% of the total exports of Sialkot are carried out via Sialkots dry port,
while 40% is exported from other ports like Lahore, Islamabad, Karachi, etc.
1. Sports Goods Industry
The city of Sialkot has been a centre of excellence for the production of sports
goods for more than 100 years. The first record of manufacturing sports goods in
Sialkot can be traced back to 1883 with products such as cricket bats, hockey
sticks, and polo sticks. Today, the sports goods sector of Sialkot has acquired an
important place in the international trade of sports goods.
There are over 3,000 small and medium-sized sports goods industrial units, and
some 50 well established industries functioning in and around Sialkot. SCCI has
INDUSTRIES OF SIALKOT EMPLOY THE MOST PEOPLE

22

2,002 members that are registered as sports goods and sportswear
manufacturers. The sports goods industry is a labor-intensive industry, providing
direct and indirect job opportunities to about 100,000 workers.
Presently the sports goods industry of Sialkot is supplying products to almost
every country of the world, directly or indirectly. Total exports of sports goods
from Sialkot amounted to US$170 million in 2009, while the export of sportswear
was worth US$305 million. This city caters to more than 70% of the total world
demand for hand-stitched inflatable soccer balls, i.e., around 40 million balls
annually, worth US$210 million. During the peak season, which repeats every four
years on the occasion of the Football World Cup, the production of inflatable balls
exceeds 60 million per annum.
The product range includes soccer balls, volley balls, rugby balls, beach balls,
exercise balls, cricket balls, hockey balls, base balls, tennis balls, shuttle cocks,
nets, gloves, hockey sticks, cricket bats, base ball bats, protective guards, pads,
sportswear etc. Adidas, Nike, Puma, Select, Lotto, Umbro, Mitre, Micassa, Diadora,
Wilsons, and Decathlon are some of the world renowned brands that outsource a
large portion of their production to Sialkot firms.
2. Surgical Instruments
This industry represents manufacturers and exporters of surgical instruments,
dental instruments, veterinary instruments, tailoring scissors, barber salon
scissors and beauty salon instruments.
The surgical industry of Sialkot has a history of more than 100 years, when British
doctors began to get their surgical instruments repaired from the skilled workers
of the region. These craftsmen eventually began to successfully replicate the
imported instruments. When Sialkot started exporting surgical instruments, for
the improvement of the standard, the Metal Industries Development Centre
(MIDC) was established by the Government in 1941.
In 1947, Sialkot inherited 17 registered surgical instruments manufacturers.
Today, there are about 2200 large, small, and medium units with labor force
ranging from 5 to 500 employees that are involved in this industry as either
23

manufacturers or vendors. Many of the large setups have offices and joint
ventures in importing countries. SCCIs list of members registered as surgical
instruments manufacturers includes 1,949 firms that employ roughly 80,000
workers and exported US$278 million worth of merchandise in 2009.
Sialkots surgical instruments industry exports more than 95% of its production,
which includes 60% of disposable and 40% of reusable surgical instruments, i.e. 100
million instruments annually. Its exports are made to over 140 countries, while the
US, Germany, UK, France, Italy and UAE are the biggest customers. Currently
Sialkot is producing 2,000 surgical instruments of various types for worldwide
exports.
3. Leather
Sialkots leather garments and accessories sector is another crucial foreign
exchange earner for the country. This sector is mainly scattered in two cities
namely Sialkot and Karachi. In Sialkot approximately 30,000 workers are employed
in this industry. According to SICCIs list of members, 426 firms are registered as
leather garments manufacturers, while 592 firms are registered as gloves
manufacturers. Exports of leather products were worth US$383 million in 2009,
while gloves exports were worth US$212 million.









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Sialkot has an Export Processing Zone the countrys second EPZ which was
set up at Sambrial on the Sialkot-Wazirabad Road with a huge investment of
Rs.184 million, generated through private entrepreneurs. The EPZ is spread
over an area of 238 acres, and there are 881 plots ranging from 4 kanals to 10
marlas in size. The land is priced at US$5.21 per sq. meter. Another EPZ is
planned along the Sialkot-Lahore Motorway. These zones offer various
facilities, including:















ADVERTISEMENT TO ATTRACT RETAIL INVESTORS
100% ownership rights.
One stop service, including customs clearance.
Duty-free import of machinery, equipment and
materials. No duty on any material used in the
construction of buildings.
Freedom from national import and exchange control
regulations of Pakistan.
No restrictions on repatriation of capital and profits.
No sales tax on input goods including electricity/gas
bills.
No minimum or maximum limit for investment.
Obsolete/old machinery can be sold in the domestic
market after payment of applicable duties and taxes.
Defective goods/waste can be sold in domestic market
after payment of applicable duties, maximum up to 3%
of the total value of export.
Duty free vehicles allowed under certain conditions.
After 5 years of use, vehicles can be disposed off in
the domestic market on payment of duty.

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Strong logistic Infrastructures: dry port, international airport, industrial
estates and export processing zones. Good connectivity to the major urban
centers of Lahore, Gujranwala, and Faisalabad and Rawalpindi by Rail and Road.
Sialkot Dry Port was established by the private sector in 1984 by 52 reputed
businessmen of Sialkot and has the honour of pioneering the concept of a
privately owned dry port in Asia. The main aim of this Dry Port was to provide
the facility of Customs Clearance to the exporters and importers of this region
at their door step.

Sialkot International Airport has the distinction of being the first privately-
owned public airport in Pakistan and South Asia, and of having the longest
runway in the region. There are direct flights to London as well as several cities
in the Middle East from this airport. The airport represents a welcome
convenience for local and foreign business executives and other air-travelers by
saving them from long road journeys from distant international airports in
Lahore and Islamabad.
Sialkot Airport is situated at a ten minutes drive from Sambrial Dry Port, and
25 minutes drive from Sialkot main city. Furthermore, Gujranwala, another
important industrial city, is also located just forty minutes drive away from
the airport.
Currently, trains to Lahore, Faisalabad, Multan, Narowal and Karachi are
available daily. There are also plans to open the border for an international
train between Sialkot and Jammu.

Sialkot is attached with the National Highway (N-5) through Gujranwala and
Wazirabad. From Lahore, Sialkot is about 2 hours of driving, while from
Islamabad, it is about 4 hours of driving. Bus services are available from
Rawalpindi, Lahore, Gujranwala and Multan.

After Karachi, Sialkot is Pakistan's second largest source of foreign exchange
earnings through its exports and remittances from the overseas manpower.

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Sialkot is famous all over the world because of its sports equipment and
surgical instruments manufacturing industry.

Sialkot has a fairly well-developed educational infrastructure that comprises a
University of Engineering Sciences and Technology (planned in cooperation
with Sweden) a sub-campus of the Fatima Jinnah Women University, a sub-
campus of the Virtual University of Pakistan, and more than twenty colleges.
There are eleven technical/vocational training institutions located in Sialkot,
and the average number of students enrolled every year in these institutions is
5,257.
REFERENCES
Punjab Development Statistics 2013
Sialkot Census Report 1998
Pakistan Crime Monitor Report February 2013
Urban Planning Report Sialkot
Sialkot Regional Profile
Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey MICS Punjab 2007-0











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