Artillery business: Arms policy 2012 approved for K-P, FATA

With categories in arms production, dealership changed, quotas remain the same.


Riaz Ahmad September 17, 2012

PESHAWAR: The Home and Tribal Affairs Department has approved the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Arms Policy 2012.

Although there was no change in the monthly quota for licences for districts, with Peshawar being issued 800 licences, divisional headquarters 300 and Fata and other districts 200, a few minor changes have been introduced in the arms manufacturing and dealership licences category.

All licences for arms manufacturing, dealership and repair will be issued by the home department in three categories after all conditions are complied with.

A time period of 12 months will be granted to establish manufacturing units or dealership shops after issuing of licence. In case of failure, the licence shall stand cancelled and another six months grace period will be granted after a renewal fee is deposited.

Every manufacturing unit must establish a computerised data base, install generators and set up close circuit cameras. Security guards are also a must for every unit. Large factories have to keep four trained guards, while small units are required to hire two guards under the new law.

Furthermore, arms dealers have also been put into three categories based on the size of their shops. These dealers not only have to establish a computerised data base and generators, they also have to install iron doors with double locks and CCTV cameras with 15 days recording back up.

These dealers are also required to hire two armed security guards.

Fulfilling the preliminary requirements, a limit is imposed on the production of small arms in the manufacturing units. Category P unit can produce 24,000 pistols, 24,000 shot guns and 24,000 rifles, while producing 2.4 million rounds for each of these arms.

Medium size category Q unit can produce 16,000 pistols, 16,000 shot guns and similar number of rifles along with 1.6 million rounds for each of these arms.

A smaller unit in R category is allowed to manufacture 8,000 pistols, 8,000 shotguns and equal number of rifles. It is also allowed to produced 0.8 million rounds for each of them.

By the same token, arms manufacturing units have been allowed to outsource their manufacturing within the same estate without any permission. However, to outsource manufacturing outside the estate or import arms, they require an NOC from the home department.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 17th, 2012.

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