ISLAMABAD, Dec 7: The government is working on a strategy to increase export of marble from current $23 million to $2.44 billion by the year 2015. This was stated by Federal Minister for Industries and Production Jehangir Khan Tareen in a meeting with the strategy working group on marble and granite sector here on Wednesday.

Mr Tareen said that since FATA, NWFP and Balochistan were rich in marble and granite there was need to invest more and more in these areas. It was agreed in the meeting that more quarries and training institutes would be set up in FATA, NWFP and Balochistan to exploit marble and granite resources of the region. The minister asserted that investment in these areas would provide skills and employment opportunities to the local people.