Padel is quickly emerging as one of the fastest-growing sports in Pakistan. Courts are popping up in cities like Lahore, Karachi, and Islamabad, and more Pakistanis are picking up their first padel racket to try the sport.

But there’s a pressing issue that often goes unnoticed: the massive price difference between imported padel rackets and locally manufactured ones.

While many people spend around $120 or more to import rackets from Europe or the Middle East, the reality is that the same rackets are being produced right here in Pakistan for global brands like Adidas, Wilson, and Head—at a manufacturing cost as low as $20.

This raises an important question: Why should Pakistani players pay ten times more for the same product when we already have the factories, talent, and expertise to produce world-class rackets at home?

The True Cost of Imported Padel Rackets

If you’ve browsed through international sports retailers, you’ll notice that most branded padel rackets fall in the $120–$300 range. For beginners, even the cheapest imports can feel like a big investment.

But here’s what most consumers don’t know:

• The manufacturing cost of many branded rackets is just $20–$30.
• Pakistani manufacturers are already making rackets for global sports brands under OEM (Original Equipment Manufacturing) contracts.
• Once these rackets are exported, they’re rebranded, marketed heavily, and sold internationally for a massive markup.

By the time they reach Pakistani customers again, after import duties and shipping costs, the price can be nearly 10 times higher than the original manufacturing cost.

Pakistan’s Hidden Role in the Global Sports Industry

Sialkot is world-famous for producing footballs, cricket gear, and sports apparel for decades. What many people don’t realize is that Pakistan also plays a growing role in the padel racket supply chain.

• Factories in Pakistan already supply padel rackets to some of the biggest global sports names.
• These rackets, once shipped abroad, are packaged and sold as “premium” products—even though their quality comes from Pakistani craftsmanship.
• Pakistan’s skilled workforce and cost-efficient production allow these products to be made at a fraction of the international retail price.

In short, Pakistan isn’t just capable of making padel rackets—it’s already doing it, but foreign brands reap most of the profits.

Why Are We Still Importing?

Despite having world-class manufacturing, most Pakistani players continue to import expensive rackets. Here’s why:

1. Brand Power – International names like Adidas or Wilson have global recognition, so buyers assume they’re automatically superior.
2. Lack of Awareness – Many players don’t know Pakistani companies produce the same rackets.
3. Limited Local Branding – Until recently, few Pakistani sports companies marketed themselves directly to consumers in the padel space.
4. Perception Gap – Some think “local” means lower quality, even though the opposite is true in many cases.

The Opportunity for Pakistani Padel Brands

This is where the conversation shifts from problem to opportunity. By supporting Pakistani padel brands, we can:

• Cut unnecessary costs for players.
• Empower local manufacturers to create their own identity instead of staying hidden behind foreign labels.
• Strengthen Pakistan’s sports industry and create more jobs.
• Make padel more affordable and accessible for young players nationwide.

Brands like PREMEO Padel are already stepping into this space, offering professional-quality rackets directly to Pakistani consumers—without the inflated international price tag.

Comparing the Price Gap

Let’s break it down simply:

• Imported racket from Spain/Europe: $120–$150 (≈ PKR 35,000–45,000)
• Same racket manufactured in Pakistan: $30–$45 (≈ PKR 8,000–15,000 production cost)
• Locally branded racket sold in Pakistan: PKR 10,000–25,000 (fair price, no unnecessary middlemen)

This means that by supporting local brands, Pakistani players save 50–70% while still getting world-class quality.

Quality: Are Local Rackets Really as Good?

Some players hesitate because they assume imported means “better.” But this is largely a myth created by marketing.

• The same factories in Pakistan produce for Adidas, Wilson, and Head.
• The materials—carbon fiber, fiberglass, EVA foam—are identical.
• The craftsmanship comes from Pakistani workers who already meet international standards.

When you buy from PREMEO Padel or similar local brands, you’re not sacrificing quality—you’re simply skipping the foreign label and inflated price.

How Supporting Local Brands Helps Pakistan

Buying local isn’t just about saving money. It creates a chain reaction of positive effects for Pakistan’s economy and sports community:

1. Job Creation – More demand means more employment for skilled labor in Sialkot and beyond.
2. Global Recognition – Pakistani brands can finally compete under their own names, not just as “silent suppliers.”
3. Youth Empowerment – Affordable rackets mean more young players can afford to start playing padel.
4. Stronger Economy – Less reliance on imports keeps money circulating inside Pakistan.

Stories of Success in Other Sports

Pakistan has already proven this model works:

• Football: Sialkot makes footballs for the FIFA World Cup. Local companies later built their own brands.
• Cricket: Pakistani brands like CA and MB Malik are internationally recognized and trusted.
• Gloves & Apparel: From boxing gloves to sportswear, Pakistani names are gaining ground globally.

There’s no reason why padel rackets can’t follow the same path.

What Needs to Change

To truly shift the trend, both companies and players must act:

• Local brands need to invest in marketing, build trust, and showcase their quality openly.
• Players need to break free from the “imported = better” mindset and give local rackets a fair chance.
• Sports federations and clubs should support Pakistani brands by sourcing equipment locally.

Why Now is the Right Time

Padel is still in its early growth stage in Pakistan. This means we have a unique chance to:

• Shape how the sport develops here.
• Build a sustainable sports industry that benefits Pakistani players and manufacturers alike.
• Avoid falling into the trap of permanent reliance on overpriced imports.

If Pakistani brands take initiative now—and if consumers support them—Pakistan can become not just a manufacturer for foreign brands, but a global padel powerhouse under its own name.

Final Thoughts

The numbers don’t lie: Why should we pay $120 for a racket made abroad when it was originally produced in Pakistan for $20?

By supporting local brands, we:

• Save money.
• Get the same world-class quality.
• Create jobs.
• Build Pakistan’s global sports reputation.

It’s time to change the mindset. Instead of importing back our own products at inflated prices, let’s empower Pakistani padel brands and make the sport more accessible to everyone.

👉 Explore affordable, high-quality rackets made right here in Pakistan at PREMEO Padel — because your money should build our industry, not someone else’s.