The mines and mineral department has approved establishment of crushing zones project in Khyber Pakthunkhwa to tap about 60,000 million tons (MT) marble potential of the province and avoid its waste during excavation besides curbing air pollution.
Tariq Waheed, senior geologist of mines and mineral department told APP that tribal districts were rich in marble reserves with a potential of producing about 60,000 million tons (MT) marble.
He said KP including merged areas were blessed with different types of marble resources including Granite, Manganese, Chromite, Copper, Nephrite, Jadeite, Serpentinite, Garnet, Epidote, Ationolite, Tourmaline, Idocrase, Grossular, Emerald, Silca Sand, Dolmite, Quartez, Feldspare, Axinite, Sphene, Laterite, Barite, Graphite, Soaptone, Fluroite, Diamond, Limstone, coal, Iron ore, Sandstone, Black Limestone; Lead, Agate, Gold, Silver, Nickel and adaptation of modern mechanized mining would help generate substantial revenue for Pakistan.
Last year, an integrated districts development plan (IDDP) study was conducted on marble deposits in the merged districts, which disclosed presence of about 14,700 MT marble in four districts including 8,450 MT in Mohmand, 5,850 MT in Bajaur, 345 MT in Khyber and 65MT in Kurram.
Mohmand Marble City (MMC) is being constructed on 350 acres land and its major part was completed with about 45 industrial units starting production besides generating around 500,000 jobs for youth.
‘Marble City’ is also being constructed in Buner district where over 200 marble and allied industrial units under clusterization concept would be setup with employment generation potential of 25,000 people.
Source: www.urdupoint.com
