Industry and Manufacturing Musakhel
Introduction
There is no industrial unit in the district. The sole production unit was a power generation plant at Musakhel, but this plant is not active anymore. Commercial activities are limited in Musakhel.
Small Enterprise Development (SME)
Small enterprise seems hard to develop in Musakhel in the absence of infrastructure. Roads, electricity, credit facilities, skilled manpower, and technical support are considered basic prerequisites for enterprise development, and these are all severely lacking in Musakhel. In view of the widespread livestock farming, milk and meat production and processing seems a potential cottage industry to be developed.
Skilled manpower can get employment outside the district, but at present there is no vocational institute in the district to train the interested youth in various trades. There has been hardly any planning regarding skill development and provision of infrastructure, due to lack of interest and financial resources.
Manufacturing
Manufacturing units are almost non-existent in the district. A very few units at Musakhel include a flour mill and furniture making workshops. Embroidery work is done by women in their houses and is therefore not accounted for, despite the fact that at times it helps to improve the financial situation in the household.
Trade (import/export)
Although a small quantity of vegetables, especially tomato and chillies, is exported to various districts of Punjab, the import/export balance remains import oriented. Most of the consumable goods are imported from Punjab.
Tourism
Musakhel is endowed with natural beauty. It is one of the most beautiful parts of Balochistan, but infrastructure for development of tourism is absolutely non-existent. There are only three rest houses with limited accommodation, but no hotel to accommodate tourists. There is no remarkable archaeological site worth seeing.
Handicrafts
Women in Musakhel are expert in traditional embroidery work, but for the most part this work is done on womens dresses for personal use. Although at present it is not a commercial activity, it can be developed as a cottage industry if proper guidance were provided to the women.
Department of Small and Medium Enterprise and Industrial Development
The Department of Industries exists at provincial level but it does not play any role in the development of industries or small business enterprises at the district level.
GO/NGO/SME, etc. involvement in Industrial Development
The only government support available for development of small enterprise and manufacturing is a banking facility, which is at its minimum as there is only one bank in the whole district. Only the private sector is to some extent involved in marketing.
Coverage Commercial Services |
Local Govt. |
Prov. Govt. |
Fed. Govt. |
NGO |
Internat. Donor |
Private Entr. |
||
| Credit | - |
- |
x |
- |
- |
- |
||
| Marketing | - |
- |
- |
- |
- |
x |
||
| Legend: | - x |
no involvement minor involvement |
||||||
Conclusion and major Development Issues
There is no industrial activity in Musakhel. A few manufacturing units and routine commercial activities shape economic life of the district. Imports to the district supersede the exports. In the absence of infrastructure it may not be possible to develop small enterprise. Technical know-how, training for different skills, and provision of appropriate physical infrastructure are highly needed to encourage industrial development in Musakhel. Embroidery work is done by women for personal use. Organised efforts may be directed towards development of embroidery work as cottage industry and, consequent, towards the development of women in Musakhel.
Tourism is minimal, as no facilities are available in the district.
|
|
An agricultural tract near Musakhel
Sheep and goats: major segment of livestock