pakistan geographical review 1954 - University of the Punjab
pakistan geographical review 1954 - University of the Punjab
pakistan geographical review 1954 - University of the Punjab
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INDUSTRIES IN THE MIDDLE EAST*<br />
BY<br />
Miss YUSAF KANIZ<br />
Lahore College for Women, Lahore.<br />
Industry has acquired an overwhelming importance in <strong>the</strong> world <strong>of</strong> today.<br />
Industrial development depends on <strong>the</strong> resources <strong>of</strong> a country in power, raw<br />
materials, means <strong>of</strong> communication and not <strong>the</strong> least on <strong>the</strong> out look <strong>of</strong> its<br />
inhabitants in <strong>the</strong> matter <strong>of</strong> education, labour and capital. With <strong>the</strong> rapid<br />
reorientation <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> politics <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Middle Eastern countries greater attention is<br />
being paid to <strong>the</strong> utilisation <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong>ir natural resources for <strong>the</strong> purpose <strong>of</strong><br />
indust rialisation and a better economic set up. Still, <strong>the</strong> progress made by<br />
<strong>the</strong>se conntries during <strong>the</strong> last thirty years is not much as is evident from <strong>the</strong><br />
fact that mearly 10% to 15% <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> population derives its livlihood from<br />
industry and <strong>of</strong> this total a considerable proportion is engaged in cottage<br />
industries. This slow progress is due to :-<br />
I. Scarcity <strong>of</strong> fuel.<br />
Deficiency <strong>of</strong> power and especially <strong>the</strong> paucity <strong>of</strong> coal is a serious<br />
hindrance. Turkey and West Pakistan possess a small quantity <strong>of</strong> coal which<br />
is poor in quality and uneconomical in use. Turkish coal, 26,23,315 tons, found<br />
in Eregli-Zonguldak-Amarsa region is <strong>of</strong> bituminous and sub-bituminous quality<br />
but lack <strong>of</strong> labour, poor communications and fragility <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> material are <strong>the</strong><br />
factors unfavourable for its proper exploi tation. The last factor is a serious<br />
handicap. It results in considerable waste. Out <strong>of</strong> a total production <strong>of</strong><br />
38,31,000 tons only 25,26,000 tons is saleable. Plans are under consideration to<br />
improve this state <strong>of</strong> affairs. At Kutahya lignite deposits occur, which <strong>the</strong><br />
Turkish Government has begun to utilize for generating electricity. West<br />
Pakistan coal from Dandot is Sub-bituminous in quality but <strong>the</strong> output is<br />
decreasing. Baluchistan has small deposits scattered over a large area but <strong>the</strong>y<br />
contain a considerable admixture <strong>of</strong> phosphates, moisture and some volatile<br />
substances. Total annual production is 266,115 tons. Iran produces some<br />
*In this article West <strong>pakistan</strong><br />
is considered to have peen included in <strong>the</strong> Middle East.<br />
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