Chitral to get Marble Mining and Processing Unit

Peshawar: To include women in the main pool of progress, two mega projects, Marble Handicraft Training Centre and Marble Mining and Processing Unit would be initiated soon, Tehsil Nazim Sartaj Ahmad Khan told reporters at his office.

These projects would certainly improve the living standard of Chitrali people, particularly the women folk, Khan opined. He said that the first mega project of Marble Handicraft Training Centre would be open in Chitral to promote mosaic and handicraft sector to enhance the living standard of women and provide them opportunities of earning livelihood in an honourable way.

The said centre would be maintained by a management board for the comprising representatives of Small and Medium Enterprise Development Authority (Smeda) and All Pakistan Marble Industries Association (APMIA), he disclosed. Further, he said that this project would be completed within one year as the PSDP and ADP is funding the project.

Total cost of the project is Rs6.49 million. Main objectives of the projects are to support local community to earn sustainable livelihood by creating economic activity, especially by women folk of Chitral.

The project will 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. The NWFP produce 87 percent marble, 1percent Granite 12 percent slate as overall 82 percent product of the country and the province has 158 million tons of marble reserves.

A study conducted by NGO disclosed that 414million tons of marketable granite reserves are available in Northern areas.

Currently, Khan said, 148 processing units are working in NWFP while still there will be more potential as well. Further, with addition of latest machinery, this centre will contribute to economics growth of the region and will soon be self-sustaining after a year of its operation, he remarked.

Training will be provided to 500 people in five years and at least 30 enterprises will be established during this period. Chitral Nazim also said that employment of 2,000 people would be employed directly with the project while more chances are available for other labours, as 12 staff would be engaged in the centre.