ISLAMABAD, July 20: Federal Commerce Minister Humayun Akhtar Khan said on Tuesday that his ministry would set up a model quarry in Balochistan to boost the export of marble, gems and granite.

He was talking to the Chief Minister, Balochistan, Jam Muhammad Yousuf. The minister briefed the chief minister on the salient features of the upcoming trade policy. The minister said that Balochistan had a tremendous potential for shrimp framing, and his ministry was willing to finance shrimp farming schemes there, provided the Balochistan government acquired land for the purpose.

Mr Khan assured the chief minister that his ministry was willing to fund any export-oriented feasible scheme from Export Development Fund (EDF) in Balochistan. The minister apprised the Chief Minister that Trade Policy 2004-05 had several initiatives for the promotion of exports and the government was committed to enhancing exports from Balochistan.

For this purpose the ministry of commerce had already taken several steps including setting up of date processing plant at Turbat and apple treatment plant at Quetta.

The chief minister said that the Balochistan was working for the improvement of mineral sector and any support from the ministry of commerce would fairly expedite the process.

The chief minister also proposed that if a tomato paste plant was set up in the province it would not only save the waste of that crop but would increase the export of tomato. The commerce minister said that his ministry was ready to finance the project as soon as proper feasibility report was prepared.