Speaking at a meeting with representatives of the Pakistan Stones Development Company (Pasdec) and the All Pakistan Marble Industries Association (APMIA), he said the country had about 64 varieties of marble and granite stones, the global market of which was estimated at around $62 billion.
But unfortunately, he said, Pakistan’s share was less than 1%, which should be a cause of concern for the policymakers.
Urging the government to address the issue on priority, he said, “With the support of government, the marble industry has the potential to become the backbone of the economy and make more exports than textile products.”
He called on the government to support the marble industry in adopting latest mining and processing technologies, setting up model quarries and accessing easy credit facility. It should also ensure regular power supply and provide incentives to investors to promote marble exports globally.
APMIA Acting Chairman Muhammad Arif, while highlighting the major problems of the industry, pointed to the high electricity cost, use of obsolete mining techniques, lack of financing, poor law and order situation in mining areas, insufficient infrastructure from mines to ports, lack of value addition and supply chain problems as hurdles to its promotion.
He said Pasdec was set up to promote mechanised mining, but had failed to play its effective role. He suggested the setting up of a marble city in the federal capital and establishment of more Common Facility and Training Centres (CFTCs) in the country.
He asked Pasdec to take marble industrialists on board in the policymaking process to frame such policies that could boost the industry.
Speaking on the occasion, Pasdec Chairman Agha Shahid N Khan gave assurances to meeting participants that committees comprising representatives of Pasdec and APMIA would be formed to address the issues with joint efforts.
He said the matter of reactivation of Dargai Railway Station and some others in Balochistan had been taken up with the prime minister to provide affordable cargo services to the marble industrialists.
Published in The Express Tribune, November 15th, 2014.
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Pakistan will do well to concentrate on halal slaughter market as they are experts in slaughtering.