Darra Adam Khel

Darra Adam Khel, located between Peshawar and Kohat, was once famed as Asia’s largest informal arms market, where artisans crafted everything from light to heavy weaponry. After years of conflict, the Pakistani military transformed this town by helping locals shift from the arms trade to coal mining, tapping into the region’s rich coal reserves.

Today, Darra is marked by thriving mines, with income from coal equitably shared among tribal families. The town is also known for the striking statue of Ajab Khan Afridi, a legendary freedom fighter who resisted British forces, adding historical depth to this rugged landscape.