(11 April, 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 Mohmand Agency is a hub minerals included marble, chromites, nephrite, dolomite, iron, soapstone, manganese, silica and sand, etc., while agricultural products include Chillies, wheat, and vegetables. These deposits have a great variety of colours and fabrics and thus have vast potential in international Market. About 7000 million tons of good quality marble ranging from super white, silky and grey varieties exists in FATA.
Mian Zahid Hussain while talking to the President of Mohmand Agency Chamber of Commerce and Industry Qaisar Khan Daudzai and other members said an area of 300 Acres has been acquired for Mohmand Marble City (MMC). It is an industrial estate with tremendous investment and growth opportunities for the entrepreneurs through infrastructure availability. The marble city in Mohmand Agency will be given the status of industry under the CPEC initiative. Mohmand marble city will be made functional at the end of this year at a cost of Rs2.6 billion and will be one of nine major projects within the ambit of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor.
The veteran business leader said the marble city has been constructed on 353 acres of land, adding there will be 295 industrial plots in the city with 49 plots reserved for constructing marble factories at comparatively cheaper rates to boost production activities in the area. FATA areas will be connected with China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) through link roads. It is important consider the problems of mines’ workers and enforce proper laws securing worker’s rights. Government should provide safe working environment to the workers.
The former minister said that there is no marble waste management facility which pollutes the beauty of the area. Due to inconsistency in supply of marble, the share of this sector is very limited in international trade. The local MNA Bilal Rehman and other influential political figures of the area should play part in the economic and social development of the area. The Mohmand Agency chamber has been forwarding its suggestions to the Government, which needs immediate consideration.
