Nike resume football imports

Published: 23 August, 2007

Silver Star Group, based in Sialkot, will eventually be given a contract for 2-3 million balls a day, according to Abbas Bhatti, production manager of Silver Star.

Nike stopped importing balls from Pakistan last year after a dispute with Saga Sports over labour laws and child abuse and the company not reaching international standards on workers' rights.

'It was a bad day for Pakistan and Sialkot when Nike shifted its production base to China last year', Bhatti said. He added that Silver Star have already imported and installed new machinery and equipment to ensure quality standards and hoped the deal would restore Pakistan's brand name of all exports.

The President of Sialkot Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCI) Abdul Waheed Sandal has also said they are considering establishing a 'Soccer Ball Village'. The village would be spread over 100 acres centres would be set up and contractors would be asked to shift their stichers to the village. Sialkot produces 85% of the world's demand for handstiched inflatable balls which translates to around 40 million balls per annum worth $210 million.

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