SIALKOT After establishing an international airport on self-help basis, the Sialkot business community has announced to launch its own airline for providing the cheaper travelling facility to Sialkot region's traders on domestic and international routes.

Vice-chairman Sialkot International Airport Limited Malik Muhammad Ashraf disclosed this while talking to the media here on Wednesday.

He said that the paper work had been completed for the airline, while the total expenditures were being estimated. This airline would soon be established under the joint supervision of Sialkot Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCI) and SIAL and the name of the proposed airline was under consideration.

He said that the SIAL management had also developed necessary contacts with the international aviation companies and aircrafts manufacturing firms.

The Sialkot business community also planned to set up a food and vegetable processing/packing centre close to the airport to boost exports.

There are also plans to set up a composite-based sports goods development centre to cope with the growing demand of hi-tech equipment being used in sports goods manufacturing.

The construction of a Sialkot business and commerce centre was in progress adjacent to the SCCI building with an estimated cost of Rs140 million. The centre will display Sialkot-made export products under single roof and would serve to hold trade fairs.

The multi-storey building will house exhibition halls, facilitation rooms, and a separate avenue for women entrepreneurs.