Upgrade 'Made in Pakistan' brands.

Byline: AHSAN NISAR

Sports Industry

Pakistan is one of the top manufacturers and exporters of sports goods in the world. Sialkot is one of the most modern and economically booming cities of Pakistan, in manufacturing establishment, employment and export sectors of the industry. There is a huge potential for foreign investment in this sector, as it is clear that many multinationals have been outsourcing from Pakistan. Pakistan's sports goods have their identity in the export market. Major multinationals like Nike and Adidas are outsourcing from Pakistan. Pakistani exports of sports goods declined half a decade ago due to non-tariff barriers like ISO-9000, environmental issues and child labor.

Pakistan as a resource-rich country, if exploited properly, can play a significant role in the world economy. Pakistan with its rich and hospitable culture welcomes foreign investors to come here to discover and utilize the vast untapped potential. The sports goods sector has faced and overcomes various issues in the past through collective measures taken by all stakeholders in general and exporters in particular. Increasing demand for Pakistani-made sports goods for important international events is on the rise.

Surgical Industry

The surgical instruments industry of Pakistan holds a history of more than 100 years when few British doctors got their surgical instruments repaired by the skilled workers of Sialkot and that was the foundation of the Sialkot surgical industry. The surgical instruments industry is mainly clustered in and around the skirts of Sialkot. Over 99 percent of the country's production is centered at Sialkot. The sector comprises over 3500+ companies. Pakistan is one of the major countries in the world that manufactures and exports hand-held quality surgical instruments throughout the world.

The top 10 buyers are the US, Germany, UK, France, Italy, UAE, Japan, Brazil, Mexico, and Russia. America is the largest market for disposable instruments, while a majority of reusable instruments are exported to the EU. Pakistan's direct export of surgical instruments to China is also on the rise. Some international brands are reported to have shut down manufacturing facilities in their home countries as they get the best products from Pakistani world-class artisans.

The Pakistani surgical instruments industry will face a new challenge in the form of the Medical Device Regulation (MDR) to be mandatorily introduced in the EU beginning in 2024. All...