Marble, granite exports decline by 55 percent in 2015-16: parliamentary panel told

A parliamentary panel was informed on Wednesday that marble & granite exports of Pakistan declined by 55 per cent, from $127 million to $70 million, during 2015-16. Briefing the Senate Committee on Industries and Production, which met here with Senator Hidayatullah in the chair, Chief Executive Officer Pakistan Stone Development Company (PASDEC), Zahid Maqsood Sheikh said that due to various reasons marble related products export declined last year.
He said the company is making all-out efforts to promote mechanised practices in stone industry aimed at increasing the value addition of products which will uplift the life standards of miners. On the proposals of Senator Mian Atiq of Mutahidda Qaumi Movement (MQM), the committee recommended the government to include Risalpur and Khusdar marble cities in the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) projects to get maximum benefits from the national resources.
The officials of the PASDEC informed the participants that 43 marble and granite mines have been facilitated countrywide by the company in transforming these mines from using old techniques to use modern mechanised methods. "Mining and quarry sector contributes nearly 0.6 per cent to the Gross Domestic Product with a value addition of more than Rs 17 billion. The exports have been stagnant at around $55 million annually and there is a need to equip us with the latest technology and expertise," he added.
"Pakistan has huge reserves of different variety of world-class marble and granite. The absence of scientific quarrying practices, technology, trained manpower and proper equipment, however, has resulted in huge losses in form of wastages and poor quality. The age-old practice of blasting is the major reason for such low and in-efficient yield. The average loss at the quarry is estimated at 85 per cent as compared to a maximum of 45 per cent as per international standards. It is preventing the economy from a rich harvest of valuable natural resource and adds to environmental degradation," the official added.
Modern technology produces dimensional stones with maximum wastage of 45 per cent, while the local investor lacks both awareness and capital to adopt these new methods as the new scientific approach not only requires modern machines but a sound infrastructure and trained manpower to run these specialised machines for which PASDEC is striving.
The CEO PASDEC urged the committee members to request the Ministry of Finance for releasing earmarked amount under the Public Sector Development Programme (PSDP), so that the company can complete projects in time.
Talking about potential export markets, the officials said, "We can target Afghanistan, Middle East and China if we improve our industry and improve quality." The panel was also told that the Federally Administered Tribal Areas Development Authority (FATADA) in collaboration with the PASDEC has completed the first phase of the Mohmand Marble City while 2nd phase will be completed within next nine months.
The committee said that the opportunities are increasing in the context of the CPEC, as most of the marble deposits along the CPEC route offer great opportunities to investors.
CEO National Productivity Organisation, Abdul Ghaffar Khattak briefing the participants said that the entity is providing a number of services to enhance productivity of all the segments of economy. He said that NPO has started social sector development, which includes integrated rural development programme, community development, field survey, women empowerment entrepreneurs and training of teachers.
According to the CEO NPO briefing, the entity in December 2005 took an initiative and signed the agreement with German organisation GTZ to launch energy audits in textile sector under renewable energy & energy efficiency framework to enhance productivity and quality. In this regard, energy audit was conducted in six units under the supervision of German experts. The results of energy audit conducted in six pilot projects (two each at Lahore, Faisalabad and Karachi) of textile sector (spinning & processing) selected with the assistance and co-operation of APTMA. In view of the encouraging results of the energy audits in six pilot projects, the NPO has sought government funding through PC-1 to enlarge its scope to cope with energy deficiencies. It aims to improve the competitiveness of textile sector on a sustainable basis by significantly reducing the cost of energy.