China has expressed interest in the establishment of joint ventures and investment in the marble industry and export of marble quarries from Balochistan. All Pakistan Marble Industries Association (Apmia) Chairman Sanaullah Khan told the Business Recorder here on Thursday that despite lack of the government support, the Apmia members at their own had exported marble worth 20 million dollars to 53 countries, including UK, US, Germany, Japan etc during 2003-04.
He regretted that the marble industry, which was being constantly ignored by the government, had plenty of potential of developing into a big foreign exchange earner for the country.
Pakistani marble was acceptable in foreign markets, which could be captured provided the government paid attention towards the development of basic infrastructure that was badly needed, he added.
Sanaullah Khan said the government's attention had been drawn several times towards the miserable conditions, which were retarding the development of that praised industry, but no heed had so far been paid by the government to bring about improvements so desperately needed, he said.
The Apmia Chairman said that he had written separate letters to the Export Promotion Bureau Chairman and Small and Medium Enterprise Development Authority (Smeda), informing them that the marble industry of Pakistan was going through very hard times in view of meeting the World Trade Organisation (WTO) requirements.
"We do not lack in natural mineral resources available in any country, what we lack is in the field of technical facilities and the government support to this industry. If no attention is paid by the government in meeting the requirements of this industry on urgent basis, we will be left behind after the WTO implementation," he said.
The Apmia Chairman emphasised that the marble industry required a safe and healthy working conditions and was in immediate need of water supply and sewerage system, electricity infrastructure and telephone system, which were non-existent. Similarly, the roads were battered and un-motorable and an insecure environment had made the situation worse, he said.
Sanaullah Khan said that the marble industry was directly dependent on marble quarries, which badly lacked facilities, and added: "we were losing business as a result of undeveloped and insecure marble quarries situated in Balochistan.
FOR EFFICIENT DEVELOPMENT OF QUARRIES, HE SUGGESTED THE FOLLOWING STEPS:
-- Security issues should be dealt properly, laying of proper network of roads.
-- Sufficient supply of electricity, equipment facilities and lease transfer issues.
Although the industry's growth was very slow, he said, with the government's support "we could boost our exports five times from the current export worth approximately 20 million dollars annually.
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