By Ayesha Mudassar ISLAMABAD, Feb 24 (INP-WealthPK) Sialkot-based sporting goods industry enjoys an exclusive niche in the global market fetching millions of dollars’ worth of foreign exchange every year. Pakistan is operating one of the most eminent and largest sports good industries in the world. Its exports are to some of the most renowned brands including Adidas, Nike, Umbro, Micassa, Diadora, Mitre, Wilson, Lotto, Puma, and Decathlon. Owing to quality and low manufacturing costs, the country has attained the position of one of the leading players in the world trade for decades. Throughout history, Pakistan has exported sports goods to almost 90 different countries including the USA, the UK, Germany, Italy, and France. The following table shows some major indicators of the sports goods sector.

Particulars	Indicators
Skilled Employment	200,000-250,000
Unskilled Employment	100,000-150,000
Estimated Total Revenue	< USD 1 billion
Contribution to Exports (2020)	0.8%
Capacity Utilization	85% to 90%
Estimated No. of SMEs	6,000 (approximately)

Table:  Economic Indicators of Sports Goods Sector   Source: SCCI and Trade Maps Statistics indicate that the sports industry has been an integral part of Pakistan's economy and offers employment to 300,000 to 400,000 skilled and unskilled workers. Despite operating at a very large scale, the sporting goods industry is facing many challenges. Lack of technology is one of the major challenges. Utilization of the latest technological procedures can speed up production, thereby enhancing the efficiency of the sector. Through effective use of technology, Pakistan has the potential of beating all the major competitors. This sector is also beset with shortage of power and scarcity of labour. The Government of Pakistan has permitted a Chinese firm to establish a $150 million industrial park named "Challenge Fashion Industrial Park" for production of sportswear. The park is expected to create around 10,000 to 11,000 job opportunities for the locals. This extensive facility has been planned with the collaboration of fabric manufacturing units. Furthermore, Pakistan Sports Board (PSB) has urged the business community to contribute towards promoting numerous sports activities in the country. Drawing a comparison between the budgetary allocations for promotion of sporting goods industry in the region, Deputy Director of the PSB Mansoor Ahmad said India has allocated $382.21 million, Iran $80 million, Bangladesh $70.78 million, and Sri Lanka $22.59 million but Pakistan allocated just $6.09 million, demonstrating that sports have little significance for the country. This sector is contributing to the economy of Pakistan in multiple ways by providing employment opportunities, generating national income, increasing foreign exchange, and contributing to national trade. Pakistan Sports Goods Manufacturers and Exporters Association (PSGMEA) should play its productive role to improve the performance of the sector. Subsidized credit facilities should be provided so that better and improved technology can be used in the production of sports goods.