Official neglect: Marble business in Mohmand takes a hit

Two watchmen of the market were killed by militants in 2015

SHABQADAR: Ikramullah is a labourer by profession and belongs to Burhan Khel tribe. His job is to crush marble stone in Sro Kali. The region has a thriving market for marble.

Like him, there are other people from the Burhan Khel tribe who also crush, buy and sell marbles to earn a living. The area was once an agricultural land but now it has become one of Pakistan’s leading markets for marble.

While speaking to The Express Tribune, Shahidullah, a local, said more than 100 trucks loaded with different kinds of marble from six parts of Mohmand Agency arrive in Sro Kali.



“Marble is supplied to factory owners from four sites across Peshawar,” he added. “Hundreds of trucks loaded with marble arrive from Ziarat, Khanqa, Kaimor, Gumbati, Yara Khel and Spenki Tangi where factory owners supply [marble] to Punjab.”

The marble is used to make porcelain and other products. Soapstone and small marble are supplied to Punjab to make porcelain and steel.

Shahidullah said the area comprises three petrol pumps, four hotels, four service stations, two markets for mechanic shops, two truck tyre shops, goods transport company and seven weight stations. He added more than 1,000 labourers work on the site.

“There are 70 marble factories in Subhan Khwar and 35 in Parchavi Michni,” he said. About taxes and facilities, Shahid said Rs1,900 and Rs3,600 are received as mineral taxes from single and double trucks in Ekka Ghund. He added the political administration also receives its own taxes from these marble stones trucks at different ratios. He said Rs3,500 are received for every truck from Ziarat while Rs2,000 is earned for other areas.

“Unfortunately, no facilities have been provided by the political administration or mineral department to marble mine owners, labourers and truck drivers,” he said.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 29^th, 2016.