Sialkot: Sights & Sounds of the Export Capital of Pakistan Part-3

Sialkot: Sights & Sounds of the Export Capital of Pakistan Part-3

Besides other sports good, Sialkot makes headlines all over the world for its very high quality footballs. As per an estimate approximately 80-85% high-quality hand-stitched inflatable balls production of the world originates from Sialkot. The local football
industry earned $164 million in export earnings in the financial year 2009.

Sialkot is known as the city of Iqbal who was born, and bred here. Iqbal’s house is located in Kashmiri Mohala. In 1861 Iqbal’s grandfather Shaikh Rafiq bought this house and they shifted there from Mohala Khatikan.

The Government of Pakistan has now converted this house into a museum with many historical documents and articles under use by Iqbal displayed therein. Besides, the famous Pakistani poet, Faiz Ahmed Faiz also belongs to Sialkot. Professor William Lilly is
yet another eminent philosopher who taught at the Murray College, and spent most of his working life there.

His book on ethics remains a classic. Professor William Lilly and Dr. Muhammad Iqbal used to act as examiners in philosophy for Punjab University. The famous Indian journalist, Kuldip Nayyar, is the son of Dr. Gurbakhsh Singh who was from Sialkot and used
to practice medicine in the city’s Trunk Bazar.

It is a city with a rich cultural, political, social and educational history with a diverse mix of people from varying walks and backgrounds. Sialkot is a city of culture and industry. For its closeness to the Indo-Pakistan border, Sialkot has been ravaged
by the wars of 1965 and 1971. A mushroom growth of educational institutions both in public and private sectors has taken place which shows the keen interest of the people of Sialkot in education.

For a prospective student the city of Sialkot provides a memorable and valuable experience. A university of Engineering Sciences and Technology is being set up in Sialkot by the Government of Pakistan with Swedish collaboration. A Medical College is also
being established in the city. In addition, a Polytechnic Institute and a Paramedic Institute are already functional in Sialkot.

Perhaps the most commendable feat of the local industrialist to join hands and build the first privately funded international standard airport.

To be continued…

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Posted by Naveed A Bari on Apr 19 2012. Filed under Pakistan. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback to this entry