Pasdec plans to set up 5 marble cities: National Assembly panel informed

The Ministry of Production on Wednesday told National Assembly Standing Committee on Production that Pakistan Stone Development Company (Pasdec) has planned setting up five marble cities in the country costing Rs 2 billion.
The first meeting of the Standing Committee on Production was held under the chairmanship of MNA Iqbal Muhammad Ali Khan of MQM at the Parliament House. Hameedullah Jan Afridi, Ms. Shagufta Jumani, Salahuddin, Gul Muhammad Rind, Secretary Ministry of Production and others participated in the meeting.
Secretary Ministry of Production Gul Muhammad Rind told the meeting that PASDEC is striving to transform the marble and granite industry as a whole into a socially responsible, globally competitive and leading player of international dimension in stone industry which requires restructuring of the entire value chain, starting from quarry, followed by investment in the state of the art processing industry.
He said Pasdec has embarked on an ambitious programme of initiating 30 projects for model quarries, CFTC, etc, at a cost of Rs 2.28 billion. It also plans setting up of five marble cities costing Rs 2 billion. He said the projects are being funded under Public Sector Development Programme (PSDP). He said work on development/upgradation of model quarries is in progress all across Khuzdar, Chitral, Buner, Mastung, Loralai, Chagi, etc.
He said the process for setting up marble cities at Risalpur, Fata, Loralai and Karachi is in progress.
About Pakistan Gems and Jewellery Development Company (PGJDC), the official said it is endeavouring for development of gems and jewellery industry from mine to market and to enhance its competitiveness internationally by facilitation, technology upgradation and skill development.
The committee was informed that two modern gem exchanges are operational in Peshawar and Quetta which provide linkage between buyers and sellers.
About National Industrial Parks Development and Management Company (NIP), he said NIP has been established with PIDC funding of Rs 325 million. He said the government has allocated a loan of Rs 2 billion as seed money to NIP. He said main aim of the company is to establish modern/world class industrial parks throughout the country.
About Furniture Pakistan Company (FPC), he said FPC has been established with a capital of Rs 590 million. He said the company will co-ordinate with all the stakeholders and implement the strategy to upgrade the furniture industry of Pakistan thus helping in enhancing the export of furniture.