The area lacks industrial development. Bolan is one of the districts in Balochistan which have no industry or manufacturing. There is home industry of women producing embroidery work. Small industry development includes the manufacturing of shoes, caps, mattresses, and carpets manufacturing in small enterprises at homes and in the shops.

The district’s largest small enterprise for leather embroidery is located in Lehri. Approximately 100 leather items, including hand-bags, bags, spectacle boxes, belts, shoes, key chains and brief-cases are manufactured here. Around 500 persons, including women, are involved in the production of leather goods. Most people work part-time. The Small Industries Department has opened sale shops for leather goods made in Lehri, Quetta, Islamabad, Karachi, Lahore and Ziarat (in summer).

The Lehri small arms industry is also famous all over the province. It is the only enterprise engaged in arms production that is run privately. There are 7 to 10 families involved in the industry for three generations now. In total there were six shops at Lehri. In 1962, they obtained a permit and were regularly inaugurated by President Ayub Khan at Mastung. The weapons are hand-made and include single and double barrel shot-guns, pistols, revolvers and daggers. Swords are produced on special order only. Some were exhibited on the Sibi annual fair in March 1996. The manufacturers were awarded by the President of Pakistan for their sophisticated designs. They have requested the government to issue a license to import Belgium steel for the production of barrels. Three elder craftsmen, Amir Haider, Mohammad Yaqoob and Hazoor Baksh are famous for their expertise.

 The carpet industry is developed in Mach Central Jail, where a large number of prisoners are trained in the art of carpet making. After they have served their time, they could promote the art in the district, but often they lack infrastructure and finances to do so.

 There are two carpet centres run under the Directorate of Small Industries, at Mach and Lehri. Together they employ approximately 150 workers.

The output of manufacturing is too small to be exported. Besides, manufacturers lack export facilities. Leather products are sometimes bought up to be exported, but this is not on record.

No tourism industry or site is worth mentioning in Bolan district. With the exception of two picnic sites at Pir Ghaib and Kondalani, there is no picnic spot worth mentioning. A large number of people from Quetta and Mach travel to Pir Ghaib (in summer and winter) for recreation. Kondalani attracts visitors from Dhadar, Sibi and Mach. In summer, any place with trees and water may function as a picnic spot.

Ruins of Mehr Garh, Bolan.

The ruins of Mehr Garh are an important archaeological site in Bolan district. The site is situated in the Mehr Garh village, 130 km south-west of Quetta. A kacha road near Dhadar leads to the site. The excavation, which came under the supervision of a team of French archaeologists in 1988, is believed to be over 9,000 years old. A number of items found in the ruins of Mehr Garh are stored in the Victoria Hall at Sibi and in the National Museum of Pakistan in Karachi. Mehr Garh can be visited under levy escort provided by the District Administration. At a 15 km distance from Mehr Garh are the ruins of Noshero, but the excavation is not fully dug out. The ruins of Noshero are also very old.

Both sites can be developed from a tourism point of view, but, with a view on the kacha road and the ongoing tribal enmity between the Raisani and the Rind, this will not be feasible for the near future.

Handicrafts include embroidery work, leather embroidery, caps, mattresses and carpets.

Handicraft industry in which women are involved at the household level is not developed. Their skill and craft is wasting, as there is no proper outlet.

Although the Directorate runs some business in the district, it is not represented within Bolan district.

Legend: - no involvement

x minor involvement

xx substantial involvement

xxx major involvement

There is no large scale industry in the area. The only current development is in the field of small industries. Government support for small industries is however not very encouraging. The potential for small industries can be explored by extending financial and technical assistance to the manufacturers. It can be promoted by providing training to the local people in the field of traditional crafts like carpet and gun making. Home industry, e.g. embroidery work done by women, can be promoted without much financial costs for the government. The establishment of Small Industries Estates at Dhadar, Lehri and Mach may be considered.

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