The city of Sialkot in the Punjab Province of Pakistan received worldwide attention when it was discovered that it produced about 70% of the world’s footballs, including those used during the 2022 world cup. But Sialkot’s story goes far beyond the beautiful game. In 2007, this remarkable ‘island of excellence’ completed an international airport that it had built of a public-private partnership, the first of its kind in Pakistan.

This episode dives into the incredible tale of Sialkot’s rise. We’ll explore the vision, the hard work, and the unwavering community spirit that propelled this enterprising city to international stardom.

Special thanks to our guest host Jaffer Askari and to our guests: Adnan Ghumman (Economist, World Bank), Sohail Nasir Ghuman (Director Marketing, Leatherfield) and Salamat Ali (Economic Adviser – Trade Policy Analysis, The Commonwealth Secretariat)

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