RECORDER REPORT

SIALKOT: The election activities are gaining momentum in and around Sialkot. The contesting candidates along with their supporters are visiting their respective constituencies for getting vote. It was observed that contesting candidates are regularly attending funeral prayers and marriage ceremonies in their respective constituencies for obtaining votes in fast approaching general elections.

The election fever is on the rise as the rivals are flexing their political muscles diligently wooing voters to win their support in the elections in Sialkot district. The contesting Candidates belonging to different political parties have started canvassing in their respective constituencies of five National and eleven Provincial Assemblies seats in Sialkot, Daska, Pasrur and Sambrial tehsils of Sialkot district.

It was observed during the visit of different constituencies that the contesting candidates are actively attending marriages parties and funeral prayers just to win the support of the people in elections. The candidates along with supporters and the influential were busy in contacting the voters of their respective constituencies for obtaining their maximum support during fast approaching elections on National and Provincial assembles seats in the district.

The main tribes of Sialkot district are 30 percent Jat, 13 percent Aryan, 14 percent Kashmiris, 25 percent Gujars, 14 percent Rajput and 5 percent are other. It may be pointed out that Kashmiris and Gujars are on the top and had always played an instrumental role in deciding the elections in Sialkot district.

Sialkot district is in the northeast of the Punjab province and situated in the feet of the snow-covered peaks of Kashmir near river Chenab. The Sialkot district is consisting of four tehsils, ie, Sialkot, Daska, Pasrur and Sambrial. According to the recent census, the total population of Sialkot district is 3.89 million out of which 2.75 million rural population of the district.

There are five National Assembly and 11 Provincial Assembly seats in the district and the total registered voters are 469,826 out of which 208,022 are female registered voters in Sialkot district. The tehsil-wise estimated population is Sialkot tehsil 1.79 million, Sambrial tehsil 0.41 million, Daska tehsil 0.84 million and tehsil Pasrur is 0.84 million.

Sports Goods industry and surgical industry are more then centaury old industries of this export-oriented city and nucleus of cottage industry while leather, leather garments, martial art, gloves leather garments, textile items, sports wears, musical instruments and badges industries etc are playing an instrumental role in strengthening the national economy through the exports of quality of products. The industrial sector is totally export-oriented and products produced in Sialkot are exported globally and the city is earning US 2.5 billion dollars yearly.

The business tycoons of the city are not only engaged with exports but they are also fulfilling the social responsibilities with missionary zeal and commitment.

The business community initiated a unique Sialkot City Package Programme under which main arteries of the city have been constructed roads. The business community of Sialkot has set up a matchless precedent by constructing mega project of Sialkot International Airport totally on self-help basis. Sialkot is an important economic hub and the only export-oriented city in the country. Development of local cottage industries in Sialkot has assumed a model status for the developing world. Thousands of small and medium enterprises situated in and around the city are engaged in honouring their international commitments for export of value-added sports goods, surgical instruments, leather products, martial art uniforms, sportswear and badges etc.