KarachiRift between two tribes over the precious stone rich Khadaro Mountain has caused losses of some $2.6 million to the marble industry during the past three months. Khadaro Mountain is a wealthy source of Foscel Cream locally known as Tipi located at Bark area, some 150km from Karachi. The Khadaro mine produces 1,500 tons Tipi worth Rs 2.2 million daily. Jameel Barija, an official leaseholder of Khadaro mine, told that Sardar Muhammad Saleh Buttani, sibling of the speaker of Balochistan assembly Aslam Buttani, has forcibly squatted mountain in revenge. He said that Buttanis are using illegal tactics to suppress Barijas with the view to maintain their dominance in the suburbs of Lesbela district.

He informed that not a single stone of Tipi has been extracted since April 14 because of trespassers, who have also torched a marble loaded truck at Mangopir road recently. When contacted, former chairman, All Pakistan Marble Mining Processing Industry and Exporters Association (PMMPIEA) Sanaullah Khan said in this regard that Tipi was contributing some $10 million in marble exports.

He said the industry is facing around Rs 20 million losses daily, owing to internal dispute between the two tribes. He expressed apprehension over the issue, saying that some 3,500 labours were jobless for last three months. He said the annual production of Tipi was 150,000 to 200,000 ton, adding that Korea and Middle East countries were great markets of this precious stone.

To a question, he said that PMMPIEA had tabled the issue at both federal and provincial levels but no response was witnessed in this regard. He further said that marble export has surged by over 60 percent during July to May of last fiscal year 2008-09. He said that marble sector had exported US $31.670 million marbles mostly to Middle East countries during the said period as compare to $19.670 million export made in last corresponding period of previous year. He said the marble sector has surpassed last corresponding period export by $12million, which is a positive stroke for the economy. He said the sector had increased marbles export without any governmental favour and added the government had not even planned to give any incentive to marble exporters in this connection.