Sindh govt approves marble city

Project expected to boost exports to $500 million.

KARACHI: The government of Sindh has approved the country’s first marble city which will be established at the Northern Bypass Karachi covering over 300 acres and preparation of the master plan for the project will begin soon, said Sindh Board of Investment Director-General Younis Dhaga.

Dhaga said that the groundbreaking ceremony of the project will take place in March and a common facility and training centre will also be constructed.

All Pakistan Marble Mining, Processing Industry and Exporters Association Chairman Sanaullah Khan said that the marble city project is a milestone for the industry and stressed the need of expediting work on the project. Khan said that once the project is complete, marble export will reach $500 million compared to $60 million last year.

He added that around 50 per cent of marble is exported through undocumented channels to Afghanistan. Middle East countries are the biggest buyers of Pakistani marble whereas marble is also exported to China in the shape of blocks.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 4^th, 2011.