PESHAWAR: The business community has demanded of the government to help put marble mining sector on modern lines in order to strengthen the national economy.

The demand was made during a meeting of the representatives of Sarhad Chamber of Commerce and Industry and All Pakistan Marble Industries Association (APMIA) here on Tuesday.

According to a statement issued after the meeting, a Memorandum of Understanding was also signed to promote the marble and mining sector on modern lines.

Ijaz Khan Afridi, SCCI acting president, and APMIA chairman Mohammad Asghar Khan signed the agreement.

Other members of APMIA delegation included Shafiullah, Ahmad Shah and Zafar Ali Khan Kundi. SCCI general secretary Sajjad Aziz, and officials from the chamber’s research and development cell were also present.

Mr Asghar apprised the chamber’s acting president that the marble sector was playing a pivotal role in economic development of the country by earning hefty foreign exchange through exports. He, however, said people attached to the marble sector faced with financial crunch to apply modern techniques in marble mining.

He floated various proposals for promotion of the sector.

Ijaz Afridi assured the APMIA delegation that issues associated with the marble sector would be taken up with relevant departments to be resolved instantly.

The SCCI’s acting chief said immense marble reserves existed in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, but owing to lack of awareness, technical assistance, guidance and financial constraints, the sector couldn’t realise its potential.

Mr Afridi said the marble sector was a major source of foreign exchange, and also a one of the major creators of employment in KP and other parts of the country.

The chamber’s acting president urged the government to take pragmatic steps to resolve the problems associated with the marble sector. He stressed the need for promoting the marble and mining sector on modern lines.

He also emphasised the need for applying modern cutting and polishing techniques to earn huge foreign exchange through exports of value-added products in Central Asian Republics and rest of the world to help stabilise the national economy and create more employment opportunities.

Published in Dawn, August 9th, 2023