 Darra
Adam Khel is a town
in the Northwest
Frontier Province of
Pakistan, located
between Peshawar and
Kohat, very close to
the Federally
Administered Tribal
Areas. It is
inhabited by
Pashtuns of the
Afridi khel (clan).
The town consists of
one main street
lined with shops,
with some alleys and
sidestreets
containing
workshops.
Economy
Darra Adam Khel is
devoted entirely to
the production of
ordnance. A wide
variety of firearms
are produced in the
town, from
anti-aircraft guns
to pen-guns. Weapons
are handmade by
individual craftsmen
using traditional
manufacturing
techniques, usually
handed down
father-to-son. The
quality of the guns
are generally high
and craftsman are
able to produce
replicas of almost
any gun. Guns are
regularly tested by
test-firing into the
air.
How exactly Darra
turned to producing
weapons is unknown,
though a popular
explanation is that
a Punjabi gunsmith
on the run for
murder brought his
skills to the
lawless frontier in
the 1890s. The
British turned a
blind eye to the
practice in return
for a guarantee of
safe passage in the
area.
Tourism
Foreigners are only
allowed to visit the
town if they have a
permit, obtainable
from government
offices in Peshawar
(permits are no
longer issued,
however it is
possible to take the
Peshawar-Kohat bus
and get off at the
town). A bodyguard
usually accompanies
visitors whilst they
are in the town, and
they are allowed to
test-fire weapons
for a small fee.
Technically visitors
can buy guns, though
they will usually by
confiscated by
guards as the
sellers inform them.
Difficulties can be
avoided by judicious
use of baksheesh
(bribes).
Michael Palin
visited the town as
part of his Himalaya
television series,
as did Ethan Casey
in his travel book
Alive and Well in
Pakistan. |
