Pakistan is preparing to unveil a National Marble Policy aimed at unlocking the country’s significant marble and granite reserves for domestic development and export growth. The initiative comes at a time when Pakistani stone is experiencing robust demand in China—one of the world’s largest and fastest-growing markets for natural stone.
According to an official from the Pakistan Stone Development Company (PASDEC), Chinese buyers continue to dominate Pakistan’s stone export destinations, despite challenges such as rising shipment costs. He noted that demand from China has remained “remarkably resilient,” offering Pakistan an opportunity to strengthen its commercial presence in a highly competitive market.
The PASDEC representative emphasized that Pakistan’s potential in the global stone trade hinges largely on its ability to process material locally. “Pakistan could capture even greater market share in China and beyond if processing was localized and supported with better infrastructure,” he said. “Mechanised mining has created a complete value chain—from extraction to processing—which allows our products to compete internationally.”
With improved finishing and value addition, he added, Pakistani marble and granite could enter premium global segments. He cited the example of kitchen slabs in American retail outlets, which sell for thousands of dollars. With advanced processing technology, Pakistan could position its stone to meet similar demand in both Western markets and China.
Industrial clusters such as Marble City in Risalpur—where roughly 80 units are currently operational—are already playing a pivotal role in enhancing export readiness. These clusters are helping standardize production, improve quality control, and promote technological upgrades across the sector.
The PASDEC official also highlighted that new machinery for on-site crushing, cutting, and polishing is helping producers align their output more closely with international standards. Mechanised mining, he noted, will reduce Pakistan’s reliance on exporting raw stone, enabling the country instead to export higher-value finished products.
As Pakistan prepares to implement its National Marble Policy, industry experts are optimistic that modernized mining practices and enhanced processing capabilities will allow the country to fully capitalize on rising demand from China and expand its footprint across global markets.
