Industry and Manufacturing Kalat

Introduction

Industry plays a vital role in the growth of a local and national economy. It converts agricultural production into value added items. It meets various requirements of consumers. It provides employment opportunities to the local population and brings prosperity to the society. Unfortunately, in Kalat district there is no organized industrial activity except a few cottage industries of "mazries", carpet weaving, wood work and shoe making. The embroidery-work is also carried out in the district as local tradition. Embroidery-work is almost exclusively done by the women which provides a source of income for their families. The best designs of embroidery are being worked on silk cloth using white and colored thread. Besides these traditional ones, small enterprises e.g., engineering works (repairing shops of auto, electric and electronic gadgets, etc.), flour mills ( local small "chakkis"), furniture, hotels, bakeries, poultry farms, shoes, and blacksmith’s shops are also found in the district. Unfortunately no data indicating numbers of units and there employees could be made available for several types of enterprises. Those available are presented below.

 

Industry

Units

Employees

Engineering Works

10

17

Flour Mill (Local Chaky)

54

108

Furniture

1

2

Hotels/Bakery

4

8

Poultry Form

1

6

Private Poultry Forms

3

15

Total

73

150

Source: Directory of Industrial Establishments (1994) Balochistan

Small Enterprise Development

Small enterprises producing carpets, embroidery, woodwork, and mazries for making mats are very common. If technical training and some financial assistance is provided by the government to the local people, the production of these items may be increased. This will improve the economy and the living standard of the people in the area.

Manufacturing

In Kalat the manufacturing activities are limited to only shoe-making, embroidery-work and preparing bakery items. Embroidery work is carried out by local women at domestic level. There are only four shoe-making shops and three bakeries in Kalat. The income of these small manufacturing units is very small due to the limited purchasing power of the people.

Trade (import/export)

There is no data available on specific import-export activities to other provinces. Agricultural commodities, particularly fruits and onions are exported to Karachi. Local embroidery and production of other handicrafts are sold in the local market. Some NGOs arrange exhibitions of these items at Kalat and Quetta. Being located on the RCD high way, Kalat has good potential for exporting its production to Karachi and Quetta, and in return it can import raw materials from the same places. All the items of domestic and daily use are brought to the area from Sindh and Quetta.

Tourism (picnic/archeological spots)

The district has a recorded history; the Khan of Kalat palace and Meery are famous sites. Kalat is situated on the RCD high way. During the journey between Quetta and Karachi, passengers often make a stop-over at Kalat to see the historical places. Also, there is a beautiful forest, called, Harboi, in Kalat district. Harboi is famous for its old juniper trees. If these sites are developed from tourism point of view, Kalat can attract tourists and the local people may have a new source of income for themselves.

Handicrafts

Balochi embroidery, dresses, caps and embroidery work on shoes are very famous handicrafts of the area. These are in demand with visitors from Karachi and other places; the carpets are also manufactured here. These manufacturing units have very limited production due to lack of marketing facilities. If the government extends facilities for marketing handicraft goods, this business can be established on a sound footing. This can increase the economic activity in the area.

Department of Industries, Commerce and Mineral Resources

 

In the district a Directorate of Small Industries of above mentioned Department is functioning to promote the small and medium enterprises. Its activities are very limited as the people are not aware of the usefulness of this department. Only a few people approach the department to seek technical and financial assistance.

 

In the Kalat district, the Small Industries Directorate is headed by the Assistant Director, rest of the staff includes an Assistant Manager, a female instructor and a clerk-cum-office in-charge. The Directorate provides training in embroidery work, cutting and stitching to the young women of the area.

GO/NGO/SME, etc. involvement in Industrial Development

It is unfortunate that the involvement of the provincial or the federal government in industrial development is minimal. However, NGOs are involved to some extent. The industrial involvement of other organizations is very limited in the district which can be observed from the following table.

 

Coverage Commercial Services

Local Govt.

Prov. Govt.

Fed. Govt.

 NGO

Internat. Donor

Private Entr.

Vocational Training

-

x

-

X

-

x

Management Training

-

-

-

X

-

-

Acquisition

-

-

-

X

-

-

Public Relations

-

-

-

Xx

-

x

Credit

-

-

-

-

-

-

Marketing

-

-

-

X

-

-

Legend:

-

x

xx

no involvement

minor involvement

substantial involvement

Conclusion and major Development Issues

No large-scale industry exist in Kalat. The industrial activities are limited to cottage industry, which includes carpet wearing, Balochi cap-making, embroidery work, mat and basket making etc. Some small enterprises such as auto and electric repair shops are present in the city. The local handicraft goods are liked by people from all over Pakistan. If the marketing is carried out in a modern way and government and NGOs extend facilities to this effect, the socio-economic conditions of the people can become much better. Being located at the main metalled highway, it should not be very difficult for the government to provide the needed facilities to the district. The manufacturing of these products may be increased if the technical guidance and financial assistance to the persons (of which a large proportion is female) involved in this sector is provided by the government and NGOs. BRSP (Balochistan Rural Support Programme) is serving in this sector. Apart from that, there is potential for the development of tourism in the district which could also add to the income of the people. Kalat is a historical place. People travelling on the RCD Highway make a stop over at Kalat to visit historical places and for site-seeing such as Harboi forest.

 

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