ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Stone Development Company (PASDEC) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Government of Balochistan for the overall development of Marble and Granite mining and processing sector of the province.

Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Zahid Maqsood Sheikh and Secretary Industries and Commerce, Aziz Ahmed Tarar signed the MoU on behalf of their respective institutions, said a press release issued here Friday.

The MoU entails collaboration for the development of Marble and Granite sector of Balochistan through improvement in existing industry practices in the province.

Under the agreement, PASDEC shall assist the Government of Balochistan in developing Marble Cities, training and development programs and Machinery Pool at district Khuzdar to facilitate in up gradation in mining techniques, provision of state of the art mining equipment and skill development to arrest the deficit in the sector.

Processing Unit at Marble City Gaddani has also been included for reactivation in the said MoU.

Chief Minister Balochistan Mir Abdul Quddus Bizenjo also witnessed the signing ceremony.

He said that the province is blessed with rich resources of dimensional stone, however improper processing facilities and orthodox quarrying practices result in to 60 to 70 % wastage of the natural resources.

He further said that setting up state of the art processing facilities and providing for latest equipment for mining to the private sector, in collaboration with PASDEC, would great benefit the province.

The CEO PASDEC said that signing of the memorandum would enable the two governmental bodies to deepen their cooperation and deliver projects for overall development of the sector.

He further said the process of development would also go as far as Chaghi not only to provide for employment opportunities to the natives but also set new standards of extraction and quarrying in the entire province.

Additional Secretary Ministry of Industries and Production Islamabad also graced the occasion.