Islamabad may amend laws to promote sporting arms industry

The government of Pakistan is likely to bring amendments in the arms and weapons-related laws to help promote the arms manufacturing and trade sectors of the country, sources told Business Recorder here on Tuesday.
In the proposed amendments the weapons would be divided into 'heavy' and 'light' weapons to pave the way for the lawful manufacturing of light weapons by the private sector. This would also simplify the licences procedure for 'light' weapons usually used for hunting and sports purposes.
"At present, the gun laws of Pakistan do not allow to carry any weapons except the shot gun used for hunting of birds," sources said. They said that the amendments would allow display of deactivated guns.
The manufacturing of the replicas of deactivated guns could help earn a handsome amount of foreign exchange for the country. The proposed amendments would also cover manufacturing of replicas of old weapons, whereas at present the manufacturing and trade of replicas of more than 75 years old model of weapons is banned under 'Antiquity Act 1975'.
This Act, according to trade experts, is discouraging exports of old and hunting sporting arms and replicas of qualified old weapons and arms, depriving the country of a handsome amount of foreign exchange.
The government of Pakistan has established Pakistan Hunting and Sporting Arms Development Company (PHSADC). The project has been sponsored by Pakistan Industrial Development Corporation (PIDC), which would work to utilise the century-long rich heritage of manufacturing hunting and sports arms of Darra Adam Khel, in the Frontier Region.
Due to large and recognised world market for hunting and sporting arms, there is potential for this area to become the hub for producing quality firearms. The exploration of this potential and amendments in gun laws could make Pakistan a major player in world exports of hunting and sporting arms.
Some units in Sialkot and Gujranwala are also producing small quantities of arms and ammunition. There is also some sword and dagger manufacturing industry in Wazirabad.
According to Defence Export Promotion Organisation (DEPO), Pakistan currently exports only 6000 quality hunting and sporting arms, mostly to the United States. The organisation indicated a large potential for Pakistan to export about 600,000 hunting and sporting arms to gain a significant market share.
World exports of hunting and sporting arms during fiscal year 2005 was $1.34 billion. Hunting and sporting arms and equipment constitute a giant industry world-wide and world consumer market of hunting and sport arms and equipment collectively is worth more than $37 billion.
Only in USA, the number of paid hunting licence holders is more than 15 million, and total equipment expenditure in retail sales annually is $21 billion. The industry employs 575,000 people in USA.
Pakistan's export of hunting and sporting arms were worth a mere $1.45 million in 2005 and, keeping the world market in view, there is a large potential for Pakistan to enhance its share in this world market, but is hindered due to an undeveloped hunting and sporting arms industry and certain laws.