Pakistan should exploit marble reserves like China for faster growth of economy: ICCI chief

Islamabad: Pakistan should exploit its marble reserves like China for faster growth of economy, a top Pakistani businessperson said.

President, Islamabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ICCI) Muhammad Shakeel Munir mentioned that China had used its marble reserves effectively and its economy benefitted a great deal.

“Like China, many other countries including Italy, Turkey, Spain and Brazil also exploited their marble reserves effectively for economic development, but in Pakistan this sector has not been given due attention despite its tremendous potential to promote exports and improve the economy,” he maintained while talking to Amir Noorani and Nasir Ahmed, Dubai-based prominent businesspersons of the marble sector during their visit to ICCI.

Shakeel Munir urged the Pakistani government to focus on marble industry for its better growth as this sector has the potential to transform Pakistan into a fast growing economy.

He noted that Pakistan had huge reserves of marble and granite in all regions of the country and the government should cooperate in introducing mechanized mining in this sector by reducing duties on import of marble machinery and technology.

Munir regretted that outdated technology was still in use in the quarrying and processing of marble products due to which the ratio of wastage was quite high.

He appealed to the government to cooperate in introducing the latest machinery in the marble sector for promoting mechanized mining in order to produce valued-added marble and granite products and increase exports.

Munir was of the view that the Pakistani government should address all key issues of the marble sector to unleash its real potential for economic development of the country like the Chinese government who laid a platform for growth.

He assured the delegation that ICCI would fully cooperate with them for enhancing import of marble and granite products from Pakistan for the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

Speaking at the occasion, Amir Noorani and Nasir Ahmed, Dubai-based prominent businesspersons of the marble sector, informed that a lot of construction projects were going on in Dubai and UAE, so Pakistan had great potential to increase its exports of marble products by their value addition.

Saleem Mughal, former Chairman, All Pakistan Marble Industry Association, indicated that the government’s support was needed for infrastructure development, technological up-gradation, access to finance, human resource development and marketing to facilitate the better growth of the marble sector.

He observed that the government should ensure low cost financing schemes for the marble industry for its better development.

He said that lack of access roads to mines, connecting roads network, utilities and industrial zones were the key factors behind low investment and poor growth of this sector and stressed that the government should address these issues on priority basis.

Saleem Mughal, former Chairman, All Pakistan Marble Industry Association was also present at the occasion.