The Pakistan Stone Development Company (PASDEC) on Tuesday allocated 199 industrial plots to the stakeholders in Marble City Risalpur for establishment of marble industrial units through a transparent balloting system.



The balloting was held at Marble City Risalpur. A total of 199 plots of various categories including 8 kanals, 4 kanals and 2 kanals were allotted against 409 applications through draw. Sarhad Chamber of Commerce and Industry President Muhammad Akbar Khan Roohullah Khan had announced the ballot results.



Appreciating the allotment of 199 plots, BMG Chairman of All Pakistan Marble Mining Processing Industry and Exporters Association (APMMPIEA), Sanaullah Khan asked the government to give tax holiday of five years after resumption of production to the marble city units.



He said the Marble Estate Risalpur would be the most technologically advanced and modern industrial estate of dimension stone.



Khan said this would provide direct and indirect employment opportunities for locals besides enhancing quality stone and marble to Peshawar marble manufacturing units.



He said this would add to the quality products on the export front besides enhancing mining activities in the war torn areas.



He said the Karachi's marble industry shares around 90 percent exports target and after resumption of production in Marble City Rislapur, the export of quality products would fetch better price in the international market.



He said Federal Minister for Industries and Production Mir Hazar Khan Bijarani also appreciated the efforts of stakeholders and PASDEC for enhancing export and building stone sites.



By December 2010, we expect an export figure of around $60 million while export to US will hopefully stand around $5.9 million, Khan added.



He said, "USA is eyeing Swat district, Bajaur agencies and NWFP where we have millions of tonnes of deposit of marble and chromite."



This is black colour stone and contains around 55 percent steel properties and is used in steel-making and steel material for tank-making, he added.



The BMG chief said China is the largest importer of chromite, "It is exported to China at Rs 42 per kilogramme but due to disturbance in the tribal areas our export is hit hard."



He said presently export orders of marble products including tiles and slabs to Middle East, USA, China, Italy, Hong Kong and South Korea are in the pipeline.



He said, "Demand from India alone is around more than $1million every month as India possesses granite but not marble."



There is export potential of above $1 billion. Realising the potential in marble and granite sector, the last government approved in principle the project related to the establishment of 10 model quarries, two machinery pools and four common facility-training centres.



He demanded the Federal Minister for Industries and Production Mir Hazar Khan Bijarani and Minister of State for Industries and Production Dr Ayatullah Durrani to hold a meeting with the industry members in order to resolve the issues impeding the growth and exports.



PASDEC Chairman Ihsanullah Khan assured the stakeholders of their full support for the success of the project and highlighted the significance of the project.



Marble City Risalpur is an industrial estate for marble and granite-processing industries spread over 185 acres and will be beneficial for major quarry clusters of NWFP and FATA.