LANDI KOTAL: The industrialists and tribal elders hailing from Bara sub-division of Khyber Agency have welcomed the Rs1.5 billion package for the revival of closed industrial units and restoration of damaged infrastructure in Bara industrial zone.

Expressing his satisfaction over restoration of peace in the terrorism-affected Bara sub-division, Haji Tibat Shah, a power loom owner, told Dawn that all the five clusters of silk industries, including Karegar Garhai, Sultan Garhai, Malak Garhai, Nasir Garhai and Zulfiqar Garhai, were now secured as the security forces and local Khasadar and Levies force had established various checkposts there.

He said that all the owners and industrial workers had been provided with security cards and they faced no difficulties operating their power loom units. 

Industrial units were shut after launch of military operation in 2009

Mr Shah said that all facilities required for smooth running of their units in Alamgudar, Akkakhel and Shalobar had been provided to them which also included uninterrupted power supply.

Nearly 2,000 industrial units, including big and small, were closed down in Sept 2009 after the security forces launched a major operation in Bara against outlawed militant groups. 

Raza Khan, an owner of a silk factory in Alamgudar, told Dawn that he along with his colleagues were compelled to close down their factories and flee from Bara due to threats from militant organisations. He said that the situation had considerably improved as security forces had cleansed most parts of Bara from militants.

He said that with the improvement in the law and order situation most of their labour force from Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa had returned to Bara. He, however, said that they were now planning to employ local youth to minimise their reliance on outside labourers.

Haleem Gul, an owner of a plastic factory, was however skeptic about the law and order situation and said that the industrial zone was located in the jurisdiction of Sipah tribe and the area was not yet ‘de-notified’ by the security forces.

“The government is yet to announce a timeframe for the repatriation of Sipah tribe as the political administration had recently imposed a huge fine on them for their alleged involvement in an armed attack on a security convoy in October last year,” he explained and insisted that unless the issue was not resolved with the Sipah tribe, both owners and labourers would not feel secure.

He also lamented that outsiders, especially traders from other parts of the country, were facing problems coming to Bara as they were quizzed by the security forces at various checkposts.

Khyber Agency Political Agent Shahab Ali Shah, however, dispelled the impression about his administration having any thorny issue with Sipah tribe and insisted that all the displaced families of Bara, including Sipah, would be sent home till August this year.

He told Dawn that his administration was in constant touch with the elders of Sipah tribe and that the issue of Sipah’s involvement in attack on forces would be resolved. 

Mr Shah said that reopening of all the industrial units, Bara bazaar and revival and repair of the damaged infrastructure was a priority of the administration.

Published in Dawn, July 27th, 2015

On a mobile phone? Get the Dawn Mobile App: Apple Store | Google Play