‘Chitral to have marble handicraft, mining & processing unit

PESHAWAR: To include women in the main pool of progress, two mega projects of Marble Handicraft Training Centre and Marble Mining and Processing Unit would be initiated soon, tehsil nazim Sartaj Ahmad Khan told reporters on Sunday.
The projects would certainly improve the life standard of Chitrali people particularly womenfolk, Sartaj Ahmad Khan opined.
He said that the first mega project of Marble Handicraft Training Centre will be opened at Chitral to promote mosaic and handicraft sector for enhancing life standard of women and providing opportunities of earning livelihood in an honourable way.
The marble handicraft training centre would be maintained by a management board for the institute comprising representatives of Small & Medium Enterprise Development Authority (SMEDA) and All Pakistan Marble Industries Association (APMIA), he disclosed.
He said that this project would be completed within 12 months as it is funded by PSDP/ADP if not included in current five year plan.
Total cost of the project is Rs6.49 million.
Main objectives of the project are to support local community in sustainable livelihood by creating economic activity especially by womenfolk of Chitral.
To develop cluster for marble handicraft manufacturing, including developing backward and forward linkages for SMEs in the marble handicrafts manufacturing and marketing as well as to encourage local people in initiating enterprises thus creating employment opportunities, he added.
NWFP produce 87 per cent marble, 1 per cent granite 12 per cent slate as overall 82 per cent product of the country while Frontier has 158 million tons of marble reserves.
A study was conducted by an NGO which indicated that 414 million tons of marketable granite reserves are available here in Northern Areas.
Currently, he said, 148 processing unit work in NWFP while still there will be more potential as well.
He said latest machineries would be purchased for this purpose.
This centre will contribute in economics growth of the region and will be soon self-sustaining after a year of its operation, he remarked.
Training will be provided to 500 people in five years at least 30 enterprises will be established here during this period.
He said that employment of 2,000 people are expected to be associated directly with the project while more chances are available for other labours as 12 staffers would be engaged in the centre.
Another mega project of Marble Mining & Processing Unit (MM&PU) would be opened here with total cost of Rs275 million which is a joint venture of local and foreign investors, Sartaj added.
The project will be completed in 2 years as machinery would be borne by foreign investor whereas mine will be taken by local investors on equality basis of 40 per cent of total investment, he maintained.
He said that main objectives of this project are the same as of previous project with addition to minimise the ratio of wastage of marble in mining and processing besides convince the industry to adopt scientific mining techniques, use of mining machinery and ensure the machinery available on market price.
To develop an international level model project of marble mining & processing, more efforts would be needed, Sartaj further added.
He said that benefits of the projects were to increase the level of recovery of dimensional stone blocks from current 27 per cent to more than 50 per cent will also lead the greater sale of raw product in the international market resulting to increase profitability for local miners as well as processors.