PESHAWAR, Aug 26: An industrial estate, comprising 100 units, will be set up at Darra Adamkhel to upgrade the local arms manufacturing industry, according to a presentation given to NWFP Governor Ali Muhammad Jan Aurakzai here on Friday.

Giving details of the plan for upgradation of sporting and hunting arms industry, Technology Upgradation and Skill Development Centre chairman Almas Haider said the project was aimed at enhancing skill of traditional arms-makers and developing the capacity of the industry.

He said a common facility and trading centre for hunting and sporting arms would be established at Darra Adam Khel, besides a skill development centre in Peshawar. He said industrialists would be provided soft loans and support to procure machinery and equipment.

The meeting was informed that Pakistan would be able to earn about $100 million annually, compared to $.67 million currently, after upgradation of the arms industry in Darra Adam Khel where 600,000 arms would be produced and exported annually.

The governor appreciated the project and hoped that it would help bring an economic revolution in Darra Adam Khel.

He said tribal people had skill and expertise that needed guidance, opportunities and patronage to deliver more. He called for curbing production and transportation of illegal weapons and said the upgradation project would prove useful in this regard.