January 15, 2019: The Islamabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ICCI) has called upon the government to establish marble industrial parks under China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) and give special focus on the industry, which has great potential to promote exports and transform Pakistan into a fast growing economy.
Talking to a delegation of local marble industry led by former Chairman All Pakistan Marble Industries Association Shakeel Munit here Tuesday, Acting President of ICCI Rafat Farid Muhammad said that all provinces of Pakistan including Baluchistan and KP have huge deposits of marble and granite. However, lack of new technology was forcing marble industry to use old quarrying methods due to which the standard quarry wastage in Pakistan was up to 73 percent of the gross produce. He stressed upon the government to cooperate with marble industry in introducing latest technology & machinery for promoting mechanized mining in the country.
Vice President ICCI Iftikhar Anwar Sethi said that global market for marble and granite was estimated at over $62 billion, but Pakistan’s share in it was below one percent.
He urged that government should allow duty free import of marble machinery that would help marble industry to upgrade itself and compete more effectively in international market.
Speaking at the occasion, Muhammad Shakeel Munir, former Chairman, All Pakistan Marble Industries Association said that China was importing raw marble and granite from Pakistan and after processing & value addition was earning huge profits.
He said industrial parks will bring the cost effective cutting, blasting and finishing technology in Pakistan that will enhance the competitive edge of the industry and improve our exports significantly.
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