PESHAWAR, Nov 9: The NWFP minister for commerce and industries, Owais Ghani, has stressed the need to establish engineering development facilities in the province in order to crystallize the numerous opportunities in the engineering sector.

The minister was speaking at a seminar organized by the Small and Medium Enterprizes Development Authority (Smeda), and Sharhad Industrial Engineering Association (SIEA), was held on November 7, 2001 in the Small Industries Estate, Kohat Road, Peshawar.

The purpose of the seminar was to identify the prospects of the manufacturing of machinery in the NWFP, create linkages between engineering enterprizes on the one hand, and users of machinery, importers/exporters and financial institutions on the other. Also, to identify support mechanism needed to boost the engineering sector.

In line with the government’s tea plantation programme there is potential for locally-made tea processing plants in different areas. According to an estimate over 50 tea-processing plants will be needed.

The government wants to create a chain of mineral-processing industries from mining to stone-cutting to polishing machinery.

The NWFP government has also announced a scheme under which the local investors can buy micro-hydel-power plants of up to 5MW capacity. The electric power projects are in great demand, and the government would like to see machinery produced in the NWFP.

The government of Pakistan is promoting production of defence-related equipment. The Defence Export Promotion Organization (Depo) has been set up for the purpose.

Dara Adamkhel, traditionally known for gun manufacturing, can become a base for a new industry, specially, replicas of vintage weapons and model-making in addition to parts for international manufacturers.

Representative of the PCSIR laboratories committed themselves to provide facilities for a material-testing laboratory and surface-treatment plant within the next 12 months.

The engineering industry representatives promised to work for the development of the province in general and engineering sector in particular.

They also announced their decision to start a programme which would provide hands-on experience to engineering students.