Marble industrial parks proposed

Chinese quarrying techniques can help utilise marble reserves

LAHORE:

Pakistan-China Joint Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCJCCI) President SM Naveed has said the export of marble and granite can be increased manifold by establishing marble industrial parks in collaboration with China under CPEC to effectively utilise the marble reserves of the country.

During a dialogue, Naveed said industrial parks established as per Chinese model would bring cost-effective cutting, blasting and finishing technology to Pakistan that would enhance competitive edge of the industry. He was confident that the marble and granite industry of Pakistan could be transformed into a cutting-edge industry by adopting Chinese quarrying techniques.

The PCJCCI chief called for reviving Pakistan Stone Development Company (PASDEC) to complete the missing chain in the marble industry. He added that extraction work in Pakistan mainly comprised boring of holes in the bedrock, filled with explosives to blast the block, which resulted not only in high wastage but also in smaller-sized stones, substantially reducing the price.

Speaking at the event, PCJCCI Senior Vice President Daud Ahmed said all provinces had huge deposits of ornamental stones.

“Balochistan has rich deposits of marble and granite in Khuzdar, Loralai, Lasbela and Chaghai districts, whereas in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, Malakand, Mardan, Hazara, Peshawar and Kohat are the high-potential areas where quarrying and mining are already taking place,” he highlighted.

Identifying the major factors hindering the growth of marble industry, he said lack of quality production, inconsistent supply of raw material and scarcity of modern technology were the areas that needed immediate government attention. PCJCCI Vice President Khalid Rafique Chaudhry stated that the standard quarry wastage in the world was 50% of the gross produce, however, in Pakistan, it reached up to 73%.

“Wastage can be avoided by using latest wire-cutting techniques and equipment; thus, bright prospects of setting up joint ventures in the marble sector exist in Pakistan,” he stressed.

Sharing his views, PCJCCI Secretary-General Salahuddin Hanif said the global market for marble and granite was estimated at around $62 billion, but Pakistan’s share was below 1%, which was a cause of concern for the policymakers. “With government support, the marble industry has the potential to become the backbone of economy,” he added.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 25^th, 2020.

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