The strategy working group (SWOG) of marble and granite industry has prepared its integrated strategy from quarrying to markets to fully exploit unlimited export potential of the value-added marble and granite products of Pakistan.
The strategy, to be presented to the federal government soon, includes mechanised "model quarries" within major quarrying/mining clusters across Pakistan; model processing - common facility and training centre; minimum quarrying standards, market orientation, policy reforms and establishment of a Mineral Development Bank.
Industry leaders told Business Recorder with the implementation of this strategy, Pakistan had the potential to become a major player in the $20 to 22 billion marble and granite products international market in which its present share was only 0.03 percent with $23 million annual exports.
SWOG office-bearers led by its chairman Ehsanullah Khan, representing 800 quarries across the country, visited Business Recorder Bureau here on Tuesday and gave a briefing about the present pathetic state of industry, indiscriminate blasting at precious quarries, lack of security of investment and regulations, shortage of trained manpower, expertise, machinery and equipment, apathy of government departments, regional fragmentation in terms of industry structure and efforts of SWOG to upgrade this neglected industry.
They said Pakistan contains major deposits of world quality marble, granite and ornamental stones in a wide range of colours, shades and patterns of which only 10 to 15 percent have been tapped and a vast reservoir of wealth is hidden.
They said in Malakand, Mardan, Hazara, Peshawar and Kohat divisions of NWFP and in Fata, Mohmand, Khyber, Bajaur, Orakzai, Kurram agencies, there are major zones where considerable quantities of marble and granite are being extracted through primitive blasting and other non-mechanised means.
Balochistan also has rich confirmed deposits of both marble and granite in Khuzdar, Loralai, Lasbela, Chaghai districts while ornamental stone quarries/mines are being operated in Khushab and Mianwali districts of the Punjab, they stated.
They pointed out marble and granite sector has the potential to be an engine for rural development and poverty alleviation as now in Fata it was the key source of livelihood and development of the region.
"The same could be the case in rural areas of Balochistan and NWFP where agriculture is not the main source of income," they added.
However, they regretted due to low investment in technology and human resources, indiscriminate blasting and poor quarrying practices, this sector is destroying 85 percent valuable stones and the nation's non-renewable (world benchmark: under 30 percent) in addition to damaging the environment beyond repair.
They said it was in response to opportunities for this sector, the industry decided last year to develop a strategy in consultation with all stakeholders that would enable them to increase production, add value and gel better prices throughout the value chain and increase exports with better quality standards.
They said USAID-funded Pakistan Initiative for Strategic Development and Competition project had provided SWOG with foreign and domestic experts and supported a benchmarking/study tour to Italy to assess gaps and identify linkages and pilot projects to address these gaps and sector weaknesses.
They said with the help of Institute of Management Science, University of Engineering and Technology and the Peshawar University Centre of Excellence, linkages have been developed that can support sector research and development, workforce development, and innovation.
MODEL QUARRIES/MINES:
They said as part of the initiative for upgrading quarrying/mining industry, the SWOG has suggested "model quarries" at a cost of Rs 80-90 million each as pilot projects within the major quarrying/mining clusters across Pakistan to be implemented through benchmarked technology and quarrying/mining practices.
MODEL PROCESSING COMMON FACILITY AND TRAINING CENTRE:
They said CFTCs will be pilot projects within processing industry clusters aimed at catalysing cluster upgradation through skilled workforce development and craft training, and act as a common manufacturing facility to help align the ill-equipped stone processors with the export market.
Training: onsite training programmes for better prospecting and quarrying in collaboration with local institutions.
Market Orientation: document testing and product information to better market marble and granite products.
Policy Reforms: propose possible policy reforms needed to facilitate industry growth. Already the government eliminated import duties on all quarrying and processing machinery on the recommendation of SWOG.
They said the EU has undertaken an asset mapping study of the marble and granite sector for Balochistan, Sindh and NWFP, which would greatly help the industry to attract foreign investment as investors would have a clear picture of the country's marble and granite reserves.
They said the CBR has already abolished all duties and sales tax on processing and quarry equipment and machinery as a direct result of the public-private dialogue initiated from the SWOG platform.
They said SWOG had already held a number of meetings with the federal minister for industries and special initiatives, Smeda and other senior government functionaries in connection with preparation of this strategy.
They said SWOG consists of representatives of all elements of the sector value chain including quarry/mine owners, stone processors, private firms, laboratories, related and supportive industries, universities, engineering institutions, representatives of district, provincial and federal governments, directorates of mines/quarries and the Export Promotion Bureau.
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