Pakistan stone industry is in turmoil(2009/8/17)

As a result of the North-West Frontier Province (Malacanang, Swat, Dir origin of raw materials such as marble) to wipe out terrorist groups to carry out military operations and opened attock marble Qezelabad areas of day-to-day business of the manufacturing industry has been be affected. Shortage of raw materials, resulting in a marble-fold price increase, and especially the performance of the marble tiles in Pakistan.

Qezelabad attock and open areas near the Indus River is located in a main road on the GT, the two areas over a number of marble plant. These marble factory to meet not only the stone of the Pakistan demand, and exports to the Middle East, Europe and Asia. A long time, these factories have adopted Malacanang, Swat, Dir and other areas of North West Frontier Province produced marble. Marble produced in these areas is one of the world recognized high-quality products.

As a result of the ongoing military operations in these areas, roads were closed, the shortage of raw materials, resulting in disruption of commercial activities. Not only affect the marble factory owners, workers and craftsmen, also affected the marble industry, related industries, such as transport and trade.

A local trader said , marble products declined 50 percent described the lack of raw materials, but also led to the rise in the cost and quality. Raw marble is sold earlier Rs 15-18 / feet, and now sell Rs 30-40 / ft, the price doubled.

In addition, the transport industry was seriously affected. A large number of transport team swat day, Malacanang mining of raw materials and transported to the marble factory, and now as a result of military action, the road was closed, transport is also stopped. As the Pakistani North West Frontier province is a major source of stone raw materials, the military operation has seriously affected attock production base, such as stone. In addition to impaired production base, the hundreds of marble mine is also facing the same problem. The reasons for the war, resulting in a large number of miners and related industry workers lost their jobs.

However, Malacanang,Swat region and the situation soon after the restoration of peace, traders hope that the marble industry to quickly return to normal. There are reports that, in now a daily output of about 30,000 tons of stone materials.
(by China Leiyuan, 2009/8/17)