Panjgur has no major industry except a power generation plant owned by the Water and Power Development Authority (WAPDA). However some manufacturing enterprises are functional in the district. Factors inhibiting the growth of industry and manufacturing include non-existent infrastructure, unavailability of skilled labour, lack of training institutions, and little interest of government functionaries.

Panjgur has only a few small enterprises. Major hurdles in their establishment include lack of skills, inadequate infrastructure and non-supportive attitude of governments both at federal and provincial level. No training has been considered so far, for either men or women. There is no vocational institute in the district. Interested candidates have no opportunity to receive any training. Essential infrastructure, including roads and power are lacking. There has been little planning regarding skill development and provision of infrastructure either due to lack of interest or lack of financial resources.

There are few manufacturing outlets in the district. Most of them are furniture making workshops while others include three ice factories and one soft drink filling plant. Both the soft drink plant and ice factories work in summer only. Embroidery work is done in the houses by females therefore is not accounted for in official statistics. There is enough potential for manufacturing units but irregular electricity supply, unavailability of skilled labour and lack of proper road links to big cities are the major constraints.

Major trade in the district is illegal cross border import from Iran. Many of the consumer goods, including flour, sugar, plastic goods, biscuits, blankets, liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), and poultry birds come from Iran and are cheaper than the Pakistani ones. Although Makran Scouts and Pakistan Customs are responsible to check this illegal import, acquaintance of locals with the safe routes along with inefficient vigilance result in a large scale transportation of these goods into the district. Moreover local influential are of the opinion that, due to the low economic status of the majority of the population, it is imperative to allow this cross border trade. Unavailability of adequate road links to major cities like Karachi and Quetta is another factor for the high prices of Pakistani goods which result in more need for illegal imports.

Although a small quantity of vegetables is also exported to Kech, dates remain the major export item being exported to Karachi, Quetta, Sukkur and other parts of the country. Dates produced in Panjgur are processed in Karachi and Sukkur and afterwards exported to foreign markets. One date processing unit was established in Turbat but has been closed due to mismanagement. The export of dates in unpacked form gives a relatively low return and even the quantity to be exported depends upon the crop of dates in other parts of the country. If the crop is good there, price of dates in Panjgur remains low and vice versa.

Panjgur has no tourist attraction. Infrastructure for development of tourism is absolutely non-existent. There are only two rest houses with limited accommodation while no well furnished hotel is there for accommodation of tourists. Although some archaeological sites in the district, like fort of Nawab Habibullah Khan at Khudabadan, Kuhna Kalat and some old tombs are of tourists’ interest, unavailability of support structure like roads, hotels and transportation prevents the tourists from visiting the area.

Embroidery work is the main handicraft done by women of the area with excellent skill and craft. Mostly it is done on women’s dresses for personal use but skilled women also receive orders to make dresses for other women. This embroidery work is rarely sold out in markets. Cost of such embroidery ranges from Rs. 500 to Rs. 7,000 and work can take 3 to 6 months for completion. Almost all women are skilled in embroidery craft but only few do it for income generation. This craft can be developed as cottage industry.

Another handicraft is mat and basket making by using pish (dwarf palm leaves). These baskets and mats are used domestically or sold out in the market. Only a small proportion of population in Panjgur is involved in this activity.

The Department of Industries exists at provincial level but it does not play any role for the development of industries or small business enterprises at district level in Panjgur.

The only government support available for development of small enterprise and manufacturing is through banking. Banks, either in public or private sector, provide long and short term loans to finance various trade activities. Marketing is done through the private sector and there is not a very effective marketing network for export of goods from Panjgur.

The district has only one industry, a power generation plant, and a few manufacturing units and mills. Import in Panjgur is, for the most part, illegal, smuggled from Iran. Many consumer items are imported from Iran and are cheaper than those of Pakistani. The only considerable export of the district is dates. There is no infrastructure available for development of business or manufacturing. Even electricity, a basic necessity, is not available on regular basis. This is said to be one reason behind closure of most of the shops in Chitkan bazaar at about 2 p.m. Another stated reason for this strange phenomenon is that most of the buyers come from far off villages and it is difficult to commute after sunset. It might be inferred that provision of infrastructure, like electricity and roads, can ensure increased business activity. Technical know-how, training for different skills, and provision of appropriate physical infrastructure is highly needed to encourage industrial development.

Tourism is minimal as no facilities are available in the district. Embroidery work is done by women for personal use, but a small proportion of it is sold in the market. Pish mats and baskets are also made by a few people. Skilled handicraft by women can also be developed into a cottage industry. This should result in empowering women economically.

 Back to Panjgur