Daily Times

KARACHI: Following the completion of first phase of capacity building initiated by the World’s Bank Multi-Donor Trust Fund (MDTF) in marble sector in the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA), the 2nd phase the project will be kicked off in a couple of months.

The first phase was started simultaneously in FATA and Khyber Pakntunkhwa (KP), but progress of the component in the latter remained slow citing various factors.

Talking to Daily Times, All Pakistan Marble Mining Processing Industry and Exports Association Chairman Sanaullah Khan while appreciating the efforts of the WB in the development of the marble sector, has urged owners of marble mining units and factories in Bajaur, Khyber Agency and Mulagori to speed up efforts for development and prosperity of their businesses.

“We can target potential markets in Afghanistan, Middle East and China if we improve our industry and improve quality,” he said. He appealed to small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in FATA, Economic Revitalisation of KP and FATA (ERKF) project staff, officers of FATA Secretariat and marble sector experts to work in close liaison to implement best practices. He said opportunities were arising in the context of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor. “We have most of the marble deposits on the CPEC route which offer great opportunities of investments.”

He said technology could help project Pakistan’s marble in the international market. He also highlighted shortcomings that the sector was witnessing pertaining to processing and projecting the finished products in the international market.

Muhammad Tariq, consultant for WB MDTF project, said that first phase of $63 million project ended in the right direction. “Other components of the project are economic stability, institutional development and training of SMEs.”

He added: “More than 300 local SMEs had been trained and streamlined for getting better output. Work under other components of the project in Karachi, Lahore and parts of Balochistan were also undertaken.”

Pakistan Stone Development Company (PASDEC) Chief Executive Officer Zahid Maqsood Sheikh urged authorities to initiate joint efforts with the business community for development of marble and granite sector of the country.

“Mining and quarry sector contributes nearly 0.6 percent to the Gross Domestic Product with a value addition of more than Rs 17 billion. Exports have been stagnant at around $55 million annually and there is a need to equip us with latest technology and expertise,” he said.