Sialkot gifted with vast resources, epic Talent: Speakers
'Pakistan Times' National News Desk

ISLAMABAD: Sialkot city and its environs have been gifted by nature with vast natural resources and immense human talents, said speakers at a function held here.

All its citizens belonging to different walks of life must contribute for the well being of its inhabitants. This was stated by Rahman Malik Advisor to Prime Minister for Interior and Shoaib Suddle, Inspector General Sindh Police in their address to a reception organized by Shehr-e-Iqbal Alumni at Serena Hotel in the honour of newly appointed Federal Ministers and MNAs belonging to Sialkot.

They urged the office bearers of the Alumni to make joint efforts to initiate literary, social and welfare activities in order to promote city’s image. Besides above, this city is contributing a lot in national ex-chequer through its exports business. However, the city needs its development on modern lines, they asserted.

They also commended the historic achievement of exporters and business community of Sialkot on successful completion and operation of the international airport project in Sialkot not only first of its kind in the country but also first ever in the entire world built on self help basis which is fully equipped with all kind of latest instruments and state of the art facilities.

They further said that peoples of Sialkot have set a unique precedent by constructing this infrastructure project on self help basis. They also emphasized that people of other areas of the country may follow such precedents.

Later, Khawar Anwar Khawaja, Director, Sialkot International Airport Limited (SIAL) and Dr. Sarfraz Bashir, Vice Chairman, SIAL gave short briefs regarding current operations being carried out from the Sialkot airport. SIAL team also held meeting with Chairman, Gerry’s Danata & Fedex, Afzal Wali Muhammad and offered him to explore any business opportunities to be commenced by Gerry’s group from the Sialkot airport.

Afzal Wali Muhammad accepted this offer and promised to visit the project site at the earliest. Amongst others, Gerry’s group enjoys ground handling and airline’s experience spread over decades.

Other eminent personalities present at the occasion were; Mr. Zahid Hamid, MNA, Muhammad Tariq Anis, MNA, Khawaja Zaheer Ahmad, Khalid Javed, Khawaja Yasin, Dr. F.R.Y. Fazli, Shahzada Kabir Ahmad, Muhammad Anwar, Saifullah Butt, Jameel Bajwa and Amjad Farooq, Secretary, Shehr-e-Iqbal Alumni.

To recap, the poet of the East Dr. Allama Iqbal and Faiz Ahmad Faiz who earned eternal world repute also belonged to that fertile land. Sialkot also enjoys an exclusive prominence across the globe by virtue of producing and exporting sports goods, sports wears, leather garments, cutlery, surgical instruments and ceramics.Therefore, the people of Sialkot are rightly proud of their city and surrounding places.

Shehr-e-Iqbal Alumni was founded in Islamabad about three decades ago by the alumni of Murray College and Jinnah Islamia College with a view to promoting fraternal ties among the sons and daughters of the soil.

It is a forum that seeks to provide a useful link among those having their roots in the historic city of Sialkot. Thus there is a great need to promote its cultural heritage.●