Daily Times cited Mr Manzoor Ahmed Wattoo federal minister for Industries and Production of Pakistan as saying that Balochistan is rich in mineral and natural resources like marble and granite and the government is committed to explore them for development of the province.



Mr Wattoo said that ministry of Industries and Production has already taken initiative through Pakistan Stone Development Company which has established a model quarry at Khuzdar and 2 projects of quarry up gradation in Mastung towards provincial development.



He was addressing a gathering on inauguration of the PASDEC's 2 JV projects of quarrying at Dasht District Mastung recently.



The government had focused its attention to eliminate discrimination with Balochistan starting developmental projects in the province. Among others Federal Minister for Livestock Hamayun Kurd, Mr Shahab Khawaja federal secretary ministry of Industries and Production, Provincial Minister for Finance, Provincial Minister for Industries, Mr Amir Tariq Zaman joint secretary ministry of Industries and Production and Mr Ihsan Ullah Khan chairman of PASDEC were also present on the occasion.



Earlier Mr Ihsan Ullah Khan briefed the Minister that PASDEC was successfully extracting marble square blocks by using modern machinery and technology from its first model quarry established at Naal a year ago and it was a great achievement of the PASDEC towards development of marble and granite sector.



He pointed out that the PASDEC had preferred Balochistan to establish its major projects of quarrying and processing and the 2 current quarry up-gradation projects would play a vital role in the developmental efforts towards regional developments.