The marble exports have shown upward trends as it has reached to $18 million in dimensional stone and its products with 12 percent growth. Pakistan exports marble products to Middle East, USA, China, Italy, UK and Germany.
These were the unanimous views of the participants of the training programme on 'Export, Marketing of Marble Products' held here on Thursday. The one-day training programme was jointly organised by Small and Medium Enterprise Development Authority (SMEDA), Rawalpindi Chamber of Commerce and Industry (RCCI) and All Pakistan Marble Industry Association.
The participants of the workshop were addressed by President RCCI, Jalil Ahmed Malik, Director Export Promotion Bureau (EPB) Rafiq Qureshi, Joint Director State Bank of Pakistan Gulraz Khan, Representative of UNIDO Anjum Fayaz and CEO Kohsar Industries Farrukh Munir
The session was told that Pakistan had 160.2 million tons of estimated marble reserves in two provinces of NWFP and Balochistan, 158 million tonnes and 2.2 million tonnes respectively. The operational mines of granite are eleven including 6 in Mansehra area of NWFP while one each in Swabi, Dir, Malakand, Nagarpur and Chagi. There are 2000 to 3000 processing units in Pakistan.
The participants of the training programme stressed the need of resolution of the problems facing marble sector. They said that short-term leases were hindering the production and lack of proper policy framework for dispute settlement between land and owner and leaseholder was also causing various problems.
They also talked about the lack of infrastructure facility hindering exports and demanded control over the course blasting.
Speaking on the industry in twin cities of Rawalpindi and Islamabad they expressed shock over lack of training institute for marble processing and handicrafts, besides a common facility centre for marble squaring, auto-polishing and a testing lab. They also demanded establishment of warehouse to facilitate the exporters.
Addressing the concluding session of the training workshop, President RCCI, Jalil Ahmed Malik said tat marble industry of Pakistan had a potential to increase the exports and contribute in the economic stability of the country. "If we intend to make our economy strong and address the problems like poverty and unemployment, we have to use the latest technology and management techniques to compete in international market", he added.