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Sialkot turns into sportswear production hub
04 Nov '11
2 min read
Sialkot which is considered as an important base for production of sports goods is now turning in to a destination for manufacturing of sportswear. Sialkot annually exports around US $250-300 million of readymade garments, 80 percent of which is sportswear.
“The main reason for this development is sports goods buyer who also retail sportswear prefer to source clothing from the same destination to reduce costs”, says Mr Ijaz Khokhar, Chief Coordinator - Pakistan Readymade Garments Manufacturers and Exporters Association (PRGMEA).
“Secondly since costs in China are rising, Pakistan is turning in to an attractive and alternative destination for overseas buyers. However, we need to train our manpower for a qualitative growth of the apparel sector”, he adds.
Giving details about the rise of Sialkot as a sportswear hub to fibre2fashion, he informs, “Previously, Sialkot was known as a sports goods and surgical instruments producer. But, since the last decade, the city is growing as a sportswear and readymade garments producer. Among garments, 80 percent share is of sportswear.
“Majority of the people, more than 50 percent people in the sports goods industry have started producing sportswear along with their goods. Due to this, exports are also growing because the same people who buy sports goods normally buy sportswear also from a particular producer. This helps to consolidate sales of sports goods and sportswear.
“So these buyers who buy sports goods from Sialkot have shifted their sportswear business to Sialkot, so that shipping costs can be reduced and the same container can be filled with sports goods as well as garments. This is the reason why the sportswear industry is growing”.
He however expressed concern over the shortage of manpower, which is why they proposed setting up Sialkot Garments Industrial Park to give technical support and overcome the problem of labour.
“The main reason for this development is sports goods buyer who also retail sportswear prefer to source clothing from the same destination to reduce costs”, says Mr Ijaz Khokhar, Chief Coordinator - Pakistan Readymade Garments Manufacturers and Exporters Association (PRGMEA).
“Secondly since costs in China are rising, Pakistan is turning in to an attractive and alternative destination for overseas buyers. However, we need to train our manpower for a qualitative growth of the apparel sector”, he adds.
Giving details about the rise of Sialkot as a sportswear hub to fibre2fashion, he informs, “Previously, Sialkot was known as a sports goods and surgical instruments producer. But, since the last decade, the city is growing as a sportswear and readymade garments producer. Among garments, 80 percent share is of sportswear.
“Majority of the people, more than 50 percent people in the sports goods industry have started producing sportswear along with their goods. Due to this, exports are also growing because the same people who buy sports goods normally buy sportswear also from a particular producer. This helps to consolidate sales of sports goods and sportswear.
“So these buyers who buy sports goods from Sialkot have shifted their sportswear business to Sialkot, so that shipping costs can be reduced and the same container can be filled with sports goods as well as garments. This is the reason why the sportswear industry is growing”.
He however expressed concern over the shortage of manpower, which is why they proposed setting up Sialkot Garments Industrial Park to give technical support and overcome the problem of labour.
Fibre2fashion News Desk - India
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Yohan Lawrence
Joint Apparel Association Forum (JAAFSL)
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