The 187.65 million rupees tri-partite Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed here on Wednesday amongst the Fata Secretariat, Program-Livelihood Development (FDP-LD) and Pakistan Stone Development Company (Pasdec) for establishment of Marble Machinery Pool for the marble miners of Bajaur and Mohmand agencies in the Federally Administered Tribal Areas.
The NWFP Governor Owais Ahmed Ghani and US Consul General E Candace Putnam witnessed the signing ceremony held at Governor's House. Secretary A&C Fata Secretariat Abid Majid, Chairman Pasdec Ihsanullah Khan and Chief of Party FDP-LD Shahzad Mahmood signed the agreement that would provide US funding to the tune of Rs 187.65 million through FDP-LD for establishment of Marble Machinery Pool.
The Fata Secretariat, under the agreement will utilise the technical expertise of Pakistan Stone Development Company to procure specialised modern machinery to cater to the mining needs of extensive marble clusters in both the tribal Agencies. The proposed Marble Machinery Pool will provide updated quarrying machinery, including modern cutting and drilling machines.
The pool will serve around 500 mines in Mohmand and Bajaur clusters resulting in increased productivity, greater value per ton of stones and environmental protection as a result of forgoing previous blasting techniques. This service will improve and increase the life of the marble quarry, promote increased investment in technology by the private sector and lead to at least 50 percent increase in income of the local population.
It was said on the occasion that despite vast resources estimated at three billion metric tons, antiquated methods of excavating the marble, such as blasting, result in a 70 percent product loss and damage to the environment and the life span of more than 500 mines in the area.
The estimated marble production from Bajaur and Mohmand agencies is 1.7 million metric tons per year. With the new equipment, miners will produce an estimated 4.9 million tons per year, generating annual revenues of more than 80 billion rupees. The Pool is one among many US-supported programmes to strengthen business and industry in Fata through training and grants in the furniture, gems and jewellery, leather, and horticulture industries- part of an overall programme of US support to the people of Fata that also includes livelihoods and infrastructure, health, and education.
Speaking on the occasion, the US Consul General Ms Putnam said that the machinery will help miners excavate square blocks of marble that are 150 percent more valuable in the commercial market. "The increased value will naturally result in higher profits and jobs to revitalise the industry and the overall economy of the region", she added. Governor Owais Ahmed Ghani described the agreement a great achievement towards strengthening and putting the marble industry in Fata on modern lines to benefit the local population in terms of increased income.
The Governor said that by introducing modern technique in the marble excavation, both the productivity and quality of marble would improve giving an impetus to the local as well as national economy. "This programme will develop the marble industry of Fata in a sustainable way," Governor Ghani said adding "It will not only improve value-added production in the economy, but also help build the skills of local marble mining firms in the long term.
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