Pakistan eyes $500m marble exports



Friday, January 18, 2008
By our correspondent

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan is scouting for increasing marble exports from the existing $23 million to $500 million by 2011, as it has one of the world’s largest marble and granite reserves and clear edge over the neighboring countries i.e. India and China .

“Pakistan has a clear edge over India as well as China to excel in the marble industry as we have 64 types of marbles, which India and China lack, however, 85 percent of the marble is wasted due to blasting and lack of proper facilities.

The use of modern technology would reduce the losses 45 percent,” Shahid Rehman, Director Pakistan Stone Development Company (PASDEC) said briefing Federal Minister for Sports and Culture Sardar Sikindar Hayat Khan Jogezai on Thursday.

PASDEC plans to set up four marble cities in collaboration with the NIPS (National Industrial Parks Development and Management Company). One such marble city in Risalpur is ready for groundbreaking. Shahid Rehman informed the minister that 80 plots would be created in Risalpur, 200 in FATA and 200 in Karachi marble city respectively, he said.

Federal Minister Sardar Sikindar Hayat Khan Jogezai latter while addressing to the large gathering of All Pakistan Marble Association in Islamabad Chamber of Commerce & Industry (ICCI) said that Pakistan is rich in natural resources and has fertile agriculture, sea, hills, coal, gas, oil, and marble reservoirs.

Pakistan eyes $500m marble exports



Friday, January 18, 2008
By our correspondent

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan is scouting for increasing marble exports from the existing $23 million to $500 million by 2011, as it has one of the world’s largest marble and granite reserves and clear edge over the neighboring countries i.e. India and China .

“Pakistan has a clear edge over India as well as China to excel in the marble industry as we have 64 types of marbles, which India and China lack, however, 85 percent of the marble is wasted due to blasting and lack of proper facilities.

The use of modern technology would reduce the losses 45 percent,” Shahid Rehman, Director Pakistan Stone Development Company (PASDEC) said briefing Federal Minister for Sports and Culture Sardar Sikindar Hayat Khan Jogezai on Thursday.

PASDEC plans to set up four marble cities in collaboration with the NIPS (National Industrial Parks Development and Management Company). One such marble city in Risalpur is ready for groundbreaking. Shahid Rehman informed the minister that 80 plots would be created in Risalpur, 200 in FATA and 200 in Karachi marble city respectively, he said.

Federal Minister Sardar Sikindar Hayat Khan Jogezai latter while addressing to the large gathering of All Pakistan Marble Association in Islamabad Chamber of Commerce & Industry (ICCI) said that Pakistan is rich in natural resources and has fertile agriculture, sea, hills, coal, gas, oil, and marble reservoirs.

http://www.thenews.com.pk/daily_detail.asp?id=91684

I hope to God we take the opportunity in doing so. We have massive amounts of marble/granite (and other resources), which aren't being exploited to the full level. We need a major cutback on the wastage in the marble industry (from blasting, mining, cutting etc.) though.

Right---what were these people doing for the past 60 years?? And what makes them think they can do it this time?? Nothing more than hot puff of air these loosers!! I just cannot believe the corrution and incompetent people incharge of Pakistan!!

Well its gotten better over the years, so its not like nothing has happened.

Right---what were these people doing for the past 60 years?? And what makes them think they can do it this time?? Nothing more than hot puff of air these loosers!! I just cannot believe the corrution and incompetent people incharge of Pakistan!!


I think in the last 3 to 5 years the present govt. has invited lots of Italian firms for giving international expertise in the extraction of marble and establishing more advance finished product assembly line, suppose it is going to pay off shortly !

Plus less wastage, so a better, more efficient use of our natural resources.