7 projects to explore marble resources
Munir suggested that marble products should be included in the preferential trade agreements. PHOTO: FILE
Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) government has undertaken work on seven projects to explore 60,000 million tons (MT) marble potential of the merged tribal districts.
Tariq Waheed, Senior Geologist, Mines and Mineral Department said. He added that seven projects including four ongoing exploration of decorative stones costing Rs108 million in Mohmand, Bajaur and Khyber, exploration of metallic minerals including gold, silver, manganese, iron and chromite costing Rs149.290 million, development of rare metallic mines, coal, marbles, platinum, silver and gold reservoirs in Orakzai costing Rs142 million and strengthening of Project Management Unit (PMU) costing 198.030 million are under process to take full advantage of about 60,000 MT marble resources of the merged tribal districts.
He said these projects have entered last stage of completion, which would help generate employment opportunities for youth.
Waheed said three projects including infrastructure development of clusters of mining costing Rs4,500 million, establishment of mineral check-posts costing Rs800 million and establishment of Mines Safety and Mechanized Mining Centres costing Rs3,500 million were proposed for fiscal year 2022-23.
The proposed projects would focus on solarization of mines and construction of access roads.
Published in The Express Tribune, January 24th, 2022.