July 13, 2003	Sunday	Jumadi-ul-Awwal 12, 1424

ISLAMABAD, July 12: Federal Commerce Minister, Humayun Akhtar Khan said on Friday the government would soon set up a marble development institute in the NWFP to promote marble industry and export marble products.

The minister disclosed this during a meeting with the NWFP Chief Minister, Akram Khan Durrani and governor, Lt-Gen (Retd) Iftihar Hussain Shah here on Friday. The meeting was also attended by NWFP’s commerce and chief secretaries, and some other provincial government officials.

Mr. Khan said the institute would be established in collaboration with private sector, which he said would help promote marble industries. Pakistan is rich in good quality marble.

They said high quality marble and craftsmanship could increase its marble products export manifold.

The NWFP governor and the chief minister also discussed with the commerce minister the trade potential of the province and proposed that this should reflect in the forthcoming trade policy.

The minister said that a display centre was being set up in NWFP in collaboration with private sector, which, he said, would help in promotion of trade with Afghanistan. Apart from that, a single country exhibition of Pakistan’s products would be held in Afghanistan, he added.

The NWFP governor and the chief minister are said to have told the minister that the provincial government needed support of federal government for promotion of industrialization in NWFP particularly in the area of mineral resources.

The NWFP is rich in precious stones but the province lacks refining technology.

They suggested that federal government should reduce customs duty on import of machinery for horticulture and agro-based industries so that this sector could be developed.

The commerce minister suggested to the provincial government to develop its own industrial policy like Punjab government. The suggestion was accepted and the governor and chief minister said the provincial government would provide land for setting up industries. They urged that private sector should be encouraged to establish industries in NWFP.