Fata marble sector succeeds in extracting square blocks

[LahoreEstate]

ABDUL QADOOS
PESHAWAR (November 08 2009): Marble sector of Fata achieved a milestone as for the first time square block was extracted from a mine of Mohmand Agency. The square block of marble loaded on a truck was demonstrated before the stakeholders here at Tribal Area Chamber of Commerce & Industry (TACCI) on Saturday.

Those who attended the function included provincial chief of Small and Medium Enterprises Development Authority (Smeda) Javed Iqbal Khattak, General Manager (Mineral) of FATA Development Authority Yaqub Shah, Director General, Minerals, FATA Secretariat Tahir Shah and other stakeholders of the marble sector. Shahid-ur-Rehman, president of Frontier Mine Owners Association (FMOA), and Director of Pakistan Stone Development Company (PASDEC) presided over the function.

Giving the background of the achievement, Shahid said that initiative for the abolition of blasting in marble mines eight years back was taken by private sector. He said that Smeda was spearheading the efforts and extended full facilitation to the sector in elimination of the traditional method of the extracting marble through blasting.

"It is a day of delight and rejoice that all institutions, including Trade Development Authority of Pakistan (TDAP), FATA DA and others extended full co-operation to the mine owners in the extraction of square blocks." He said that after establishment, TACCI also joined the efforts and installed 28 cutters in marble units. Shahid recalled the role of FATA DA, especially in the creation of awareness among the tribesmen for use of modern machinery in marble sector. However, he said, after formation of PASDEC work was started with new vigour and modern machinery was imported that laid foundation for the extraction of square blocks.

He said that the company is facilitating hundreds of marble units of Buner and is now working on establishing of Marble City at Risalpur. Units of the city, he said, would be provided facilities of international standard. Furthermore, he said, the company was also working in Balochistan, NWFP and its adjacent tribal areas and vowed to convert marble to the second largest industrial sector after textile.

Provincial Chief of Smeda Javed Iqbal Khattak said that the Authority started facilitation of the private sector from 1998 and struggled for the development of the sector. He attributed the extraction of square block as a big achievement.

He said that the federal government first prepared a strategy for the development of the sector and established PASDEC for its implementation. He said he was optimistic that the sector would soon become the second largest sector after textile in the country. He said that the demonstration of the extracting square block was not difficult work, but required hard work.

Javed said that the new development would help generate employment opportunities not only for the people of FATA but also for the people of settled districts of the province. He said that it was a good alternative for the use of blasting, which has been banned by the government due to the current situation in the province.

He pledged initiating formal training to the youth of NWFP and FATA and urged other marble units for the utilisation of modern technology in the sector. General Manager (Minerals) FATA DA Yaqub Shah expressed happiness on the achievement and urged for extracting of square blocks from other mines also. He said that FATA DA was working on the development of infrastructure and constructing road to every mine in FATA.

He said that during last three years 50 km road had been constructed in the area. He also shared progress on the Mohmand Agency Marble City with the participants of the meeting saying that 300 acres land has been acquired for the project. He said that all facilities including infrastructure and electricity would be provided to the units of the estate. He said that machinery would be purchased through PASDEC.

Chairman of Frontier Mine Owners Association (FMOA) Abdullah, Director General (Minerals) FATA Secretariat, Tahir Shah and vice president TACCI, Tehmash Khan also spoke on the occasion and share the rejoicing with the stakeholders of the marble sector.

http://www.brecorder.com/index.php?id=98...=&supDate=