LAHORE: Pakistan has great potential to earn billions of dollars from exports of marble products and the government should address issues of the sector to harness its potential, stated by Moazzam Ghurki, President Pakistan-China Joint Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCJCCI) during a think tank session held recently at PCJCCI Secretariat.

He also said that Pakistan is the 6th largest mineral extractor of marble and granite and has a place on world mining map. Pakistan has enormous potential to promote exports of marble products as it possess huge marble and granite reserves of around 350 million tones and 64 varieties of marble and granite stones.

Fang Yulong, Senior Vice President PCJCCI added that non-mechanized extraction is wasting around 70% of marble products, the government should allow duty-free machinery imports to help the sector produce value-added products and boost exports.

He said the high electricity cost, use of obsolete mining techniques, lack of financing facility and processing units, law and order issues in major mining areas, inconsistent power supply, insufficient infrastructure from mines to ports, lack of value addition, improper transportation facilities and supply chain problems etc were the major hurdles that were holding back this industry from full growth potential. He stressed the need for public-private sector partnership for the development of the sector.

Hamza Khalid, Vice President PCJCCI said that the government should also provide financial support to marble exporters for participating in global trade fairs, which would improve the country’s export. It should ensure soft loans to the potential investors to enable them get modern quarrying machinery. It should also help establish training centers for workforce and a safe and healthy environment.

Salahuddin Hanif, Secretary General PCJCCI said that China is enthusiastically interested in local marbles and establishing joint ventures with Pakistani marble exporters but have been demoralized due to some security reasons and deteriorating law and order situation.

He suggested the setting up of a marble city in the federal capital and establishment of more Common Facility and Training Centers (CFTCs) in the country with the collaboration of China.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2022