Country holds 297 billion tonnes of marble, granite reserves. Exports can be enhanced to 2.5 billion dollars with little effort. Ninety percent of exports comprise raw material barring development.

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January 20, 2017

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 Friday said Pakistan has 297 billion tonnes of marble and granite reserves but its total export is around 53 million dollars per annum which can be enhanced to 2.5 billion dollars within a decade.

Pakistan is producing best quality marble and granite and it can earn huge foreign exchange while reducing unemployment by paying attention to this sector which has faced a decline of $16.55 million dollars in exports, he said.

Mian Zahid Hussain said that Pakistan is the sixth largest extractor of marble and granite but its share in global extraction remains only two percent which invites intervention of federal and provincial governments.

Stakeholders are focused on exports of raw material resulting in ninety percent export of raw material to China and Italy while only ten percent of the marble is exported in finished form which is barring the development of this sector, he added.

The business leader said that 78 percent of marble and granite reserves are located in the province of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa while the rest are in Fata, Balochistan and Sindh and the number of operational mines stands at 1400.

He noted that primitive methods of mining results in wastage and poor quality of stone which can be saved by adopting latest techniques of blasting etc.

This sector is facing problems like law and order, energy crisis, high cost of electricity, poor road infrastructure, lack of loans etc. which should be considered by policymakers, he observed.

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 and granite 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.

Saudi Arabia has planned to establish new cities where finished marble and granite worth billions of dollars will be required that is an opportunity which shouldn’t be missed.

The Veteran Business Leader has asked the Govt. for implementation on recommendation of the All Pakistan Marble Industries Association so that this industries can add to the country’s economy.

Jan 20, 2017 Urdu Jan 20, 2017 English  Business RecorderThe NationJang Lahore Jahan PakistanNawa e Waqt Jasarat  KhabrainNai BaatJiddatBeopar

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