(24 January, 2018)
President Pakistan Businessmen and Intellectuals Forum (PBIF), President AKIA, Senior Vice Chairman of the Businessmen Panel of FPCCI and former provincial minister Mian Zahid Hussain on Wednesday said Pakistan has 300 billion tonnes of marble and granite reserves 90 percent of which has been exported as raw-material which not only reduces the foreign exchequer of the country but also harm the growth of local marble industry.
Investments in marble producing areas of Khyber Pukhtunkhwa, FATA and Baluchistan cannot only change the fate of those areas but exports of marble and foreign exchange can also be developed to a greater extent, he said.
Mian Zahid Hussain while talking to the business community said that despite high cost of electricity, poor infrastructure, lack of loan facilities and other problems, there is increasing demand of marble and marble products, due to heavy growth of construction industry worldwide.
To grab this demand, marble industry should be developed through easy loans by establishing mineral development bank and introducing latest equipment in the industry. Use of latest quarrying techniques and equipment will reduce the loss of marble and will increase productivity of this industry, he added.
Through modern quarrying techniques, Pakistan can export value added marble products instead of raw marble which will support national economy and increase foreign exchequer.
China has shown interest in joint venture with Pakistan in marble sector; grabbing this opportunity can improve National economy, foreign exchange and can also reduce unemployment.
The Former Minister said that the Government can import latest machinery from US, Italy and other European Companies by paying the price in shape of marble which will infuse a new life in this sector and Pakistan would be able to grab a larger share in the 45 billion dollar global market.
The veteran business leader has asked the Government to implement the recommendation of the All Pakistan Marble Industries Association and resolve problems pertaining to marble industry, so that this industry can also play its role in the development of National economy.
