March 03, 2007	Saturday	Safar 13, 1428

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ISLAMABAD, March 2: Excavators and developers of marble and granite have sought subsidies, loans on low interest rates, and security of investment for successful development of the country’s first “marble city”.

They were speaking at a stakeholders’ meeting organised jointly by the Pakistan Stone Development Company (Pasdec) and the National Industrial Parks Management Company (NIPMC) here on Friday to put forward their suggestions for setting up a “marble city” in Risalpur, NWFP. The modalities for such a project are being finalised.

The Pasdec was committed to developing the “dimensional stone sector” in Pakistan, laying special stress on the introduction of modern quarrying techniques, upgradation of existing quarries and the establishment of marble cities with common facility training centres, said its chief.

“Once the sector is organised and we are able to show the world the finest marble and granite processing in the proposed marble city, we will be able to attract joint ventures in the form of direct foreign investment as well as partnerships,” said its chairman Ihsanullah Khan. He also formed committees to discuss and put forward legitimate viewpoints on the issue.

NIPMC director-general Mohsin Syed was of the view that stakeholders should come forward and optimise their capabilities in the first industrial estate of its kind in the marble and granite sector.

The next meeting is scheduled to be held in Khairabad, NWFP, on March 15.