PESHAWAR, Feb 20: A meeting held here on Tuesday discussed mining and international marketing of soapstone found in Kurram Agency. FATA Development Authority chief executive Mohammad Shahzad Arbab presided over the meeting, which was attended by the chief executive of the Maniar Group of Companies and the director, marketing, of the HZM U.F. Minerall of Italy.

The meeting was informed that the Maniar Group was arranging a visit of experts of the Mondo Mineral of Germany to the area in order to exploit reserves of soapstone and enhance its production. The company told the meeting that they had secured an annual export order of 10,000 tons of soapstone and were planning to increase the quantum of export.—APP