THE concept of, ‘one-village, one-product” which the prime minister vows to introduce in Pakistan after his recent Thai visit may be new here but not for Gulzar Shah who is already active in this field in a rural area of southern Punjab. Prime minister Shaukat Aziz was terribly impressed by the Thai experience and resolved to introduce this concept in Pakistan as 80 per cent of the total population lives in villages and small ‘bastis’.

“It will serve the twin purpose of gainful employment opportunities at the doorsteps of the rural population on the one hand and will minimize migration of people to cities on the other”, economists said.

Big cities are already facing the population explosion owing to the continued influx of people from the interior followed by ,pressure on the amenities and allied social problems.

Gulzar Shah, already presiding over half a dozen commercially viable companies may not have studied the Thai guidelines of the concept but has already set up a highly sophisticated industry in the countryside. “I have not taken any financial risk after having moved 400 k.m. away from the Pakistan’s industrial hub”, he claims adding that, “ I want to set a precedent and hope to be followed by others under the patronage of the prime minister”.

“They may not be technocrats but are dedicated workers and do their job according to the guidelines and well in time”, he says commenting on the rural workforce, most of which are still under training but doing well.

For the last five decades, Pakistan has been the exporter of primary commodities as raw materials for the others but now is the time to add value to them and to add to the forex reserves of the country.

“Why should I sell a raw commodity at Rs20 per kilo, which I could sell at Rs400 after adding value to it”, he asks adding, “That is my concept of adding value to stay at par with those who boast of their technological breakthrough”.

The recent experiments carried out on some of the locally produced farm products, including sorghum, barley, bajra, maize and many others show that they have a tremendous scope of value-addition and are best suited to ‘one-village, one-product” concept. Barley-based industry is already there, others may be set up after having purchased relevant commercial formula from the PCSIR, which is doing a commendable job on the industrial front.

“No one could think of an edible oil widely used in medicines and food products from date palm seeds, but now it is a reality as we have a pilot extraction plant for it”, say sources in PSCIR.

But Gulzar Shah has opted for guar seed, a wonder product produced only in Pakistan, India and the US and is known for its 101 byproducts meant for food, pharma and industrial preparations.

“The potential of guar seed based industry here is still not fully exploited”, he says adding that, “ I am moving to that direction and will catch up with those in the developed world who add value to guar powder in their own way”.

Those who have know the rural ethics are of the opinion that it has its own charm and attractions sans labour problems, industrial noise, and a contended workforce which needs a fair trial under the concept of ‘one-village, one-product’.

The contribution of ‘one-village, one-product’ known in Thailand as rural industrial might to its total economy is beyond the original projections of the economic planners. But the rural industrial revolution was not brought about by the strength of the rural workforce alone. It owes its success to government incentives, efficient infrastructure network, marketing facilities and cheaper inputs.