Marble industry urged to opt for modern processing

Value addition, improved standards will help sector expand global footprint Adviser to Prime Minister for Industries and Production Haroon Akhtar Khan has emphasised that Pakistan's marble industry has significant potential to contribute to industrial growth, employment generation and foreign exchange earnings, provided the sector moves beyond conventional extraction practices towards modern processing, quality finishing and higher value-added products. He chaired a meeting of the Steering Committee on the National Marble and Natural Stone Policy to review the challenges facing the marble industry and discuss measures to enhance value addition, improve finishing standards, modernise production processes and increase exports. Khan pointed out that the steering committee had been constituted to address the longstanding challenges facing the marble and natural stone sector, unlock its export potential and modernise the industry in line with international standards. The adviser informed the meeting that four technical groups had been formed under the steering committee to develop focused recommendations on marble finishing, technology up-gradation, value addition and export promotion. These groups will work towards identifying practical solutions to industry-specific challenges and developing a roadmap for strengthening the sector's competitiveness in international markets. Khan underscored the government's commitment to working closely with the private sector to address operational bottlenecks, improve the industry's business environment and facilitate sustainable growth. He said the committee would provide a platform for identifying challenges and formulating actionable solutions in consultation with industry stakeholders. Private sector representatives, who were present in the meeting, highlighted several structural constraints affecting the industry's performance, particularly outdated extraction techniques, inadequate access to modern technology, logistical challenges, limited value addition and insufficient outreach to international markets. They observed that conventional blasting methods used in quarrying often resulted in substantial wastage of valuable marble, reducing the quantity of usable stone and undermining the industry's overall productivity. They stressed the need for adopting modern extraction technologies and improving processing techniques to minimise wastage and maximise the commercial value of natural stone resources. The participants emphasised that improving finishing standards, product quality and processing capabilities was essential to making Pakistani marble more competitive in international markets. They called for paying greater attention to logistics, market development and export facilitation to enable local producers gain access to new buyers and expand their international footprint.