SIALKOT: Paying rich tributes to his life-long services for Sialkot’s soccer ball industry and its modernization, the Sialkot Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCI) on Saturday awarded gold medal to Sialkot based leading soccer balls manufacturer and exporter Khawaja Masud Akhtar, during a day-long celebration and appreciation ceremony held at SCCI here today. Sialkot business community’s Group Leader Riazud Din Sheikh and SCCI President Zahid Latif Malik jointly presided over this prestigious ceremony.
SCCI’s all the former Presidents, SVPs, VPs, Chairperson SCCI’s Women Entrepreneurs Committee Dr. Mariyam Nouman, Chairman Air Sial airline Fazal Jillani and the heads of Sialkot’s all the main trade bodies attended this mega event of the day at Sialkot here.
Sialkot based leading exporter Khawaja Masud Akhtar was the producer of the Tel Star football officially being played in FIFA 2018 Football World Cup Russia now-a-days.
He had also produced world famed “Brazuca” football for Adidas , which was also officially played in FIFA Football World Cup 2014 Brazil as well.
SCCI President Zahid Latif Malik said that it was the first ever gold medal given to Khawaja Masud Akhtar , as this was the first ever initiative which has been started by SCCI to acknowledge the meritorious services of the Sialkot based industrialists and exporters for the Sialkot industries as well.
During this prestigious colourful ceremony , the Sialkot based business and exporters presented a five-minute long “stand up” to Khawaja Masud Akhtar , besides, saluting him. They also paid rich tributes to him, saying that the “son of soil of Sialkot” Khawaja Masud Akhtar has earned good name for Sialkot and and for Pakistan globally by producing “Tel Star” and “Brazuca” footballs by using the advanced technologies for the FIFA Football World Cups 2014 and 2018.
SCCI President Zahid Latif Malik termed Khawaja Masud Akhtar a precious asset and a role model for the development of Sialkot’s football industry.
Group Leader Riazud Din Sheikh said that there was no doubt to say that Khawaja Masud Akhtar has upheld the prestige of Pakistan as well.
He said that the entire Sialkot business community under the umbrella of Sialkot Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCI) salutes Khawaja Masud Akhtar and his family as well. He said that the world was recognizing the life-long services of Khawaja Masud Akhtar , which has modernized Salkot-Pakistan’s football industry by using the advanced manufacturing technologies.
Earlier, the Sialkot business and export tycoons accorded warm rosy welcome to Khawaja Masud Akhtar and his family upon their arrival at Sialkot Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCI) amid loud drum beats to attend this mega event hosted by SCCI in their honour.
The Sialkot exporters also garlanded him and showered rose petals with loud drum beats on him upon his arrival at SCCI. They also left the hundreds of the colourful balloons in the air on this occasion.
While, revealing the secrets of his marvelous success, the Sialkot based leading exporter Khawaja Masud Akhtar, the producer and exporter of the world famed “Brazuca” and “Tel Star” Footballs for 2014 and 2018 FIFA Football World Cups held in Brazil and Russia, highlighted the importance of innovations through the usage of the modern technologies. He said that there was no doubt to say that now Sialkot-Pakistan was much far ahead than the China, Vietnam, Thailand and other countries in quality production of the footballs.
He said that it was the quality consciousness of production which bringing the international brands like “Adidas” to Sialkot-Pakistan. He said that it was the Blessing of the Allah Almighty that now we have the world class production technology in Sialkot-Pakistan, which was making Sialkot and Pakistan proud in the world. He also termed it a great award and reward for the tiered less efforts and struggle of the Sialkot exporters.
Khawaja Masud Akhtar also asked the Sialkot exporters to also focus on advancement of the direly needed Research and Development (R&D) to meet the global trade challenges and to lure the international buyers as well.
He added that the commitment, proper encouragement, devotion, dedication, enthusiasm and complete peace of mind were also vital to touch the stars of success and excellence.
He pledged his full cooperation and energies for the further modernization of Sialkot-Pakistan’s soccer ball industry, saying that the secret of business success was also lying in ensuring the international standard and quality production , capacity building , confidence building and development of the technology through the promotion of R&D on modern lines.
Meanwhile, acknowledging his life-long meritorious services , the Government of Pakistan has announced “Sitaara-e-Imtiaz” Award for Khawaja Masud Akhtar.
