Forward Sports

Forward Sports is a Pakistani multi-national company based in Sialkot, Punjab, specializing in the manufacture of sports equipment, primarily soccer balls. The company produces balls for prominent brands including Adidas. Founded in 1991 by Khawaja Masood Akhtar, Forward Sports began its partnership with Adidas in 1994. Since then, it has produced balls for many international events, including UEFA Champions League on several occasions. It was the official provider of balls for the 2014 FIFA World Cup (the Brazuca), the 2018 FIFA World Cup (the Telstar 18)[1] and the 2022 FIFA World Cup (the Al Rihla).[2]

It produces soccer balls, handballs, sala balls, beach balls, indoor balls, sports bags, shin guards, goalkeeping gloves and medicine balls.[3]

The company was awarded a contract to produce over 3,000 Adidas Brazuca balls that were used at the FIFA World Cup 2014 in Brazil.[4] Khawaja Masud Akhtar was awarded with the Sitara-i-Imtiaz on 23 March 2019[5] and the Hilal-i-Imtiaz on 23 March 2023.[6]

Affiliates

The parent entity, Forward Group, has another subsidiary called Forward Gear which manufactures bags.

Forward Sports has an affiliated company based in Egypt, known as Forward Egypt, which manufactured a portion of the Adidas Al Rihla.

Criticism

Forward Group has faced criticism for paying its workers below minimum wages, a practice partly enabled by the low skill level required for stitching. In 2015, the workers were granted a 15% increment after a three-day labour union strike.[7][8] According to CEO Khawaja Masood Akhtar, the workers at Forward Sports get paid wages of per month.[9][10][11]

See also

• List of largest companies in Pakistan