May 23, 2006	Tuesday	Rabi-us-Sani 24, 1427

GADANI, May 22: Inaugurating a ‘marble city’ here on Monday President General Pervez Musharraf assured the manufacturers that the marble industry would be fully promoted. “Mining of marble be undertaken by utilising the latest techniques to avoid wastages,” the president said while speaking at the ceremony, which was also attended by the Balochistan Governor Owais Ahmed Ghani, Chief Minister Jam Muhammad Yousuf, Sindh Chief Minister Dr Arbab Ghulam Rahim, and federal and provincial ministers, senators, MNAs, MPAs and elite of the area.

“Marble is our asset and by developing it we can earn money and foreign exchange as well by exporting it,” he said adding that the promotion of the industry would not only be beneficial for the area and this province but would also lead to economic uplift of the poor.

The president noted that four units were in production at the facility and said the expatriate Pakistanis from USA, Japan, Spain and the UAE had shown the spirit of patriotism and had come here to serve the country and its people. They are contributing to the socio-economic development of the local population, he added.

Gen Musharraf said that about 300 units would be established in the marble city and some 600 acres of land had been allotted. He said the establishment of 300 units would help create jobs for thousands of people, reduce poverty and lead to progress.

He noted that the usage of old techniques of mining resulted in some 70 per cent of wastage as the explosives were used for the purpose. He called for using modern techniques in mining of marble.

The president emphasized that the cutting and polishing of marble should also be done in the best possible manner.

He assured the marble units’ owners that the government would extend its full assistance in this respect and the ministry of industries was also contemplating certain steps to help the marble industry

The president further assured that the equipment would also be imported as there was no dearth of money in the government’s exchequer.

He said it was not like the past when the exchequer was empty and those, who were then in the government, were fooling people by raising in empty slogans.

President Musharraf said that the present government had the will, the commitment and the determination to carryout the policies and it had the required money in t

The president made it clear that the job would have to be performed by the people in the industry and the government would serve as a facilitator.

—APP