Pakistan’s football exports could get a major boost from the development of a FIFA standard testing facility there to assist small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and the adoption of contemporary production techniques.
Pakistan needs FIFA-standard testing lab: Mohsin Masood, the secretary general of the Pakistan Sports Goods Manufacturers and Exporters Association (PSGMEA), told WealthPK that the production of footballs was a vital economic driver for Sialkot and the nation as a whole. However, he said that Sialkot’s lack of cutting-edge infrastructure prevents the industry from expanding in line with the government’s plan to increase exports.
Exporters must ship their samples abroad to have their products tested and certified to be accepted globally because the country lacks a highly regarded, cutting-edge football testing facility.
He continued, “This practice eventually raises corporate expenses and complicates logistics.
According to Mohsin, establishing a cutting-edge testing facility in Pakistan will aid SMEs in improving the quality of their goods, increasing their ability to compete on the international market and boosting exports.
He claimed that the market for sporting goods has recently demonstrated amazing success in export numbers and has established itself in the global market, where leading international sports brands now demand “Made in Pakistan” sporting goods.
At the moment, together with their attire and other accessories, the main products in the sports goods sector are hockey sticks, cricket equipment and soccer balls.
He stressed that “establishing a sports goods testing lab will help exporters ensure that their products comply with the safety standards and regulations and meet the requirements of various sports federations.”
Pakistan’s Football Exports Surge, Making it One of the Top Producers in the World
Along with China and India, Pakistan is still one of the world’s biggest producers of football balls.
Comparing July through December of the fiscal year 2022–23 to the same time in the previous fiscal year, Pakistan’s football exports climbed by 53.58%.
The Pakistan Bureau of Statistics (PBS) reported that, compared to the same period last year, exports of sporting products climbed by 27.40% to $208.674 million, or $163.797 million.