Introduction

Apart from fisheries, the district's only major industrial units are 4 power generation plants at Pasni, Gwadar, Ormara, and Jiwani owned by the Water and Power Development Authority (WAPDA). In addition some ice factories are functional in the district as manufacturing enterprises. Factors inhibiting the growth of industry and manufacturing concerns include non-existent infrastructure, unavailability of skilled labour, lack of training institutions, and limited interest of government functionaries.

Small Enterprise Development (SME) Gwadar has only a few smaller enterprises. Major hurdles in their establishment include lack of skills, inadequate infrastructure, and non-supportive attitude of governments, both at federal and provincial level. A Technical Training Centre has now been established in Gwadar and is expected to function this year. Up till now, interested candidates had no opportunity to receive training in fields other than boat-making and fishing.

Water filtering plant

Essential infrastructure including roads and power are lacking. There has been hardly any planning regarding skill development and provision of infrastructure either due to lack of interest or fiscal resources.

A branch of the Small Business Supply Corporation was established at Gwadar to finance small enterprises but the corporation requires property documents as guarantee which none of the resident have because Gwadar is not a settled area. Most of the people are poor and do not own any property. As a result, the corporation has not financed any business.

Manufacturing The only manufacturing units in the district are 16 ice factories, boat-making sheds, and a few furniture making workshops. Ice factories here work throughout the year to supply ice to fishing boats. There is lot of potential for fish processing units, either of packing the fish or making poultry feed but irregular electric supply, unavailability of skilled labour, and lack of proper road links to big cities are the major constraints.

Fish catch being iced for transportation to Karachi

Trade (import/export)

Fish export is the major trade activity in the district. About 40 percent of the total fish catch is exported to Karachi. The remaining is either directly exported to Sri Lanka, Korea, China, and Hong Kong or are sent to neighbouring districts like Kech, Awaran, and Khuzdar. Some proportion is sold to the local fish vendors. Two of the union councils in Gwadar, Pishukan and Sur Bandar, levy a considerable amount as octroi on fish trade. This may be one factor behind surplus budget situation of the local councils in Gwadar district.

A significant part of trade in the district is illegal cross border import from Iran. Many of the consumer goods, including flour, sugar, plastic goods, biscuits, blankets, liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), and poultry birds come from Iran and are relatively cheaper than the Pakistani ones. Another route of illegal cross border trade import is from the Gulf states with launches. Although Coast Guards and Pakistan Customs are responsible to check this illegal import, acquaintance of locals with the safe routes along with inefficient vigilance result in a large scale transportation of these goods into the district. Moreover local influential and many of the government functionaries are of the opinion, that keeping in view the low economic status of the majority of the population, it is imperative to allow this cross border trade. Unavailability of adequate road links to major cities like Karachi is another factor causing the high prices of Pakistani goods which, in turn, result in more need for illegal imports.

Tourism

Gwadar is visited by many individuals for business as well as for recreation. Gwadar and Pasni are well connected with Karachi by air. There is one tourist motel in Gwadar with all the facilities. Many of the government departments have their own rest houses in Gwadar, Pasni, Ormara, and Jiwani. According to an estimate, total number of rest houses in the district counts to 10. All of these rest houses are well furnished.

The 600 kilometres long beach of Gwadar district may have great potential for development as a tourist resort. The development of tourist industry in the district will surely provide job opportunities for the unemployed youth of Gwadar district.

Handicrafts

Embroidery work is the main handicraft done by women of the area with excellent skill and craft. Mostly it is done on women's dress for personal use. Some more skilled women receive orders to make dress for other women also. This embroidery work is rarely sold out in markets. Cost of such embroidery ranges from rupees 500 to 7,000 and work can take 3 to 6 months for completion. Almost all the women are skilled in embroidery craft, but only few do it for income generation. This craft can be developed as cottage industry.

Department of Small and Medium Enterprise and Industrial Development

The Department of Industries has approved the establishment of a small industrial state at Pasni. It may be hoped that it will become a first step towards industrial development in this coastal district of Pakistan. The department has one rest house at Gwadar. However, the Department of Industries does not play a significant role in the development of industries or small business enterprises in Gwadar district.

GO/NGO/SME, etc. involvement in Industrial Development

The federal as well as the provincial government has provided appreciable support to the fisheries sector by developing fish harbours and allied facilities. The construction of ice factories and cold storage is on its way after some reluctance. But the banks, either in public or private sector, provide long and short term loans to finance fisheries and allied activities. Mostly the fish marketing is done through the private sector. The marketing network for export of fish has been established. However, manipulation plays its role in depriving the fishermen of their due share in earning through fishing.

Conclusion and major Development Issues

Industry in Gwadar district consists of fisheries, power generation plants, and a few manufacturing units and mills. Import in Gwadar district is, for the most part, illegal, smuggled in from Iran. Many consumer items are imported from Iran and are cheaper than those of Pakistan. Fish is the major export of the district. Although a good deal of infrastructure is available for development of fisheries, still there is need for improvement, like e.g. a road link to Karachi and power supply. It might be inferred that if adequate infrastructure is provided, like electricity and roads, the district has great development potential. The establishment of a Technical Training Centre is a good initiative to impart know-how and training for different skills to men and women.

The small businesses can be financed through the Small Business Finance Corporation if the lending conditions are made suitable for the requirements in Gwadar. There is an intense need of short term financing to develop small business enterprises.

Tourism can be developed as an industry with little effort. Embroidery work is done by women for personal use and a small proportion of it is sold out in the market. Organised efforts may be directed towards development of embroidery work as cottage industry and, consequently, towards the development of women folk. Credit for women entrepreneurs is important to enable them to market their products, e.g. handicrafts.