Daily Times

KARACHI: Mining and excavation activities have become normal at major deposits of world quality marble and granite in Mohmand, Khyber, Bajour and Kurram agencies of Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA).

“The stakeholders and licensed miners were working to normalise activities at major zones where huge quantities of marble are extracted. These deposits have great variety of colours, fabrics and have vast potential in international market”, Pakistan Stone Development Company (PASDEC) said.

Chairman PASDEC, Zahid Maqsood said development of infrastructure at FATA was growing gradually and industrial estate on 300 acres under PASDEC working. Around 1.5-2.0 million square feet stone of all qualities monthly was excavated for local marble units. Government set export target $80 million by year 2018 from marble, granite export when all projects to establish Model Quarries & Marble Cities initiated by PASDEC would be completed. All Pakistan Marble Mining, Processing, Industry & Exporters Association (APMMPIEA) Chairman Sanaullah Khan said over than two million tonnes of marble are excavated from FATA annually. More than 7,000 million tonne of good quality marble ranging from super white, silky, grey varieties exist in Mohmand, Khyber & Bajaur agencies.

He said keeping in view strategic position of FATA, its backwardness and further setting up of marble quarry and marble cities would help remove backwardness of the area. In Ziarat good quality marble mines exists and government started extraction. First of its kind project initiated in Khuzdar Balochistan Model Quarry Khuzdar was fully operational. About 450 metric tonne stone is being excavated daily. The government gets around Rs 8,000 per metric tonne from bidders and able to extract 60 thousands tonne of mines through machineries.

He said Pakistan is in position to generate around $70 million per annum from raw marble and granite export only from this project. If marble and granite is further processed, then government would be able to get more $14 million from exports.

He said almost 80% marble in Pakistan is wasted due to conventional blasting and lack of proper facilities. Mining and quarry contribute nearly 0.5% to GDP with estimated value addition of Rs 16 billion. Pakistan remains a marginal market player with exports stagnant at about $54-$55 million due to unpredictable supply of raw material and inability to cater high volume orders.