SIALKOT: Sialkot is enjoying a prominent status not only in Pakistan but in the entire world since long due to its unique culture of small and medium industries and exports worth US$2 billion. Addressing a ceremony at the Sialkot Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCI) in connection with declaring the Sialkot and Bolingbrook (a US city) 'sister concern cities' on Thursday, Bolingbrook Police Commissioner Talat Rasheed said that the industrialists, exporters and the artisans of Sialkot were doing a great job by earning valuable foreign exchange and good reputation for the country. He told that a street in Bolingbrook had been named after Sialkot in order to acknowledge the great achievements of Sialkot-based business community, including construction of an international airport and an airline in Sialkot apart from accomplishing a number of welfare and development projects. He said that he had been trying hard along with Roger C Clark, mayor of Bolingbrook, since 2014 in order to achieve the status of sister cities for Sialkot and Bolingbrook. “Such move will help paint a positive picture of Pakistan as a peace-loving country who has been a front line state in fight against terrorism.” Rasheed told that a memorable ceremony would be held in Bolingbrook in near future in connection with its newly-achieved status as the sister city of Sialkot. He also invited the local business community on behalf of Mayor Clark to visit Bolingbrook and participate in the ceremony. SCCI President Zahid Latif Malik hoped that such initiatives would help in further improving the bilateral ties of people of both the countries. Sialkot Mayor Tauheed Akhtar said that there was ample room for improvement in the sectors of education, health and sanitation in Sialkot who could get help in this regard from its sister city, Bolingbrook.
