PESHAWAR: The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) government has planned to convert Darra Adam Khel of the Kohat region to a Sialkot-style industrial zone. Work on the initiative has already commenced.
An important meeting of the committee formed to regularise the arms manufacturing business cluster in Darra Adam Khel was held under the chairmanship of Provincial Law Minister Aftab Alam here on Tuesday.
The meeting was attended by the Managing Director Small Industries Development Board, the Deputy Managing Director of KP TEVTA, KP Economic Zone Development and Management Company, Law Department, Home Department, 11 Corps officials, District Administration Kohat, Kohat Police, manufacturing representatives associated with arms manufacturing and officers of other relevant departments.
Addressing the meeting, Law Minister Aftab Alam said that the arms manufacturing business cluster of Darra Adam Khel is of exceptional importance for the skilled workers across the country and bringing this industry under a systematic and legal framework is the need of the hour. Aftab Alam said that regularisation will not only provide legal protection to this industry but will also increase the local economy, employment opportunities and government revenue.
The meeting considered in detail the survey report presented by the District Administration Kohat, according to which the survey of 467 units has been completed so far, while there is scope for further progress.
The participants were also informed about the Terms of Reference (TORs) decided by the committee after the meeting held on May 26, 2025. It was agreed in the meeting that regularising the business cluster will enable the availability of accurate data, the establishment of organised product distribution centres and better collection of revenue.
The incentives given at the provincial level to include local industrialists in this project, especially a one-time exemption in excise duty, were also discussed in detail. The meeting also reviewed the performance of two sub-committees.
The first sub-committee is working on necessary amendments in the rules and regulations for the proposed industrial zone or inclusion of a separate chapter in the existing laws, while the second sub-committee is completing the detailed survey required for the industrial zone, in which authentic and comprehensive data of manufacturing units and dealers is being collected.
The meeting also considered aspects of getting the views of stakeholders, simplifying the complex procedures and government cooperation for the timely completion of the project. The Law Minister said on this occasion that the Chief Minister of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa takes a personal interest in this project and will receive full support from the provincial government in this regard. It was informed in the meeting that work on the restoration and reconstruction of the dilapidated TEVTA building in Darra Adam Khel will be started in the next month, which will promote the technical and technical capabilities of local skilled workers. On this occasion, emphasis was also laid on the preparation of SOPs related to arms manufacturing, promotion of industry in accordance with the law and further improvement of skills of skilled workers. At the end of the meeting, it was resolved that close communication between all stakeholders and relevant institutions will be further strengthened to implement the proposed industrial zone, while the project will be made successful through possible relaxation of legal facilities and rules and regulations. During the meeting, 11 Corps officials also proposed to adopt the model of the Sialkot business cluster as a study for the proposed industrial zone of Darra Adamkhel.
