MINGORA: The silk industry of Swat is in crisis over the fabric’s large-scale import from India despite massive production in the district.

The situation has left thousands of workers unemployed.

Currently, 60 mills, including 40-45 with water jet looms, has employed more than 1,000 skilled workers in the district directly and thousands indirectly. As of now, all mills with water jet looms stand closed. The district had over 400 silk mills until 1993.

Read: Swat's silk industry killed by Pakistan Taliban militancy

However, the number came down to less than 100 due to the launch of a military operation against the defunct Nifaz-i-Shariat Mohammadi in Malakand division in 1994. Some initiatives were later taken to revive the industry.

Major among them was the replacement of manual power looms by water jet looms to increase production and minimise costs. The move provided oxygen to the sick sector briefly though. Most mills turned to the new technology increasing their production but causing massive unemployment.

However, the import of cheaper Indian silk led mills to a crisis-like situation as their fabric struggled to compete with the cheaper Indian one. Silk mill owner Akbar Ali, who is also executive member of the Swat Chamber of Commerce and Industries, said mill owners were unable to compete with Indian industry under the current circumstances.

Also read: Hung out to dry

“Indian silk unit owners are getting electricity at Rs7 per unit. Besides, the government also gives them exemption in taxes. On the other hand, our (Swat) silk industry has no relief from the government. We have to pay over Rs20 for a unit of electricity,” he said. Akbar Ali said mill owners were struggling to earn profit due to the high cost of production.

He said Indian silk was available all over the market at a lower rate.

Akbar Jan, a 80-year-old skilled worker, said he had been associated with the profession for 60 years but had never seen such a crisis.

He said workers were in distress as most silk units stood closed over the declining profits caused by the growing demand for Indian silk as well as the excessive power loadshedding.

The worker said most people previously associated with the industry were doing odd jobs under the current circumstances.

Silk dealer Fazal Wadud said the large-scale Indian silk coupled with unplanned excessive production was to blame for the current crisis.

He said mills were supposed to produce silk in line with the market demand. “After the introduction of water jet looms, most mill owners not only turned to the new technology but also they started production of the same quality, which caused declined in the silk demand on the open market,” he said.

POLICE TRAINING: The army organised a training programme for police of Malakand division to build their capacity for effectively maintaining law and order.

According to a news release issued by ISPR here on Monday, the programme was organised by the army’s counter-terrorism centre, Pabbi. A total of 184 policemen completed sub-conventional warfare training at the centre on Dec 15. They were trained in tactical drills of sub-conventional warfare like combat without arms, ambush/anti-ambush techniques, search & arrest of terrorists in populated areas, establishment as well as manning procedures of checkposts. Also, the policemen were trained in use of light and heavy weapons including sub-machinegun, rifle G-3, light machinegun, hand grenades etc.

At the closing ceremony of the training progamme, trainees demonstrated the learnt skills during a special ceremony, where Major General Javed Mehmood Bukhari was the chief guest.

He appreciated trainers and said he was confident that the trained policemen would perform their duty to the best of their abilities in all operational conditions.

Published in Dawn December 16th , 2014