Hyderabad: After the deadly terrorist attack in Kashmir's Pulwama, the Indian government imposed a 200 per cent duty hike on Pakistani products, which also included sports equipment.
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With hockey players all around the country are finding Pakistan made hockey equipment expensive, fresh air of hope poured in among the local sports entrepreneurs in Punjab. Before the duty charge hike on imported hockey goods, Indian sports market was dominated by Pakistan.
However, things have changed since the new duty charge hike came into effect as Indian hockey manufacturers' business grew up by 10 per cent.
Before the Pulwama terror attack happened, Pakistan was the biggest source of hockey products in India which ranged between Rs 1000 to Rs 4000. Now after the duty hike, players were needed to pay Rs 3000 for each product which was once available for mere Rs. 1000.
In the wake of this scenario, local sports witnessed a sudden upsurge in their business as their biggest competitor Pakistan has gradually been fading away from the Indian market. Indian sports goods industry has an annual turnover of about Rs. 32000 crores. Pakistan has had a 15 per cent stake in it.
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Before the February 14 terrorist attack on CRPF jawans, Pakistani hockey and football goods were available in the Indian market at a lot cheaper rate. Meanwhile, the South Asian country is also one of the biggest sources of willow bat and cricket goods which are sold all over the world.
Due to a sharp fall in Pakistani sports goods' demand in the country, the Punjab sports industry has already witnessed a rise in their business. If the Indian government maintains its high duty charge on Pakistani goods Punjab's sports industry could appear as a major player in the world in the sphere of sports goods business.
