Karachi (Digital Post) Marble Industry Faces Severe Crisis, Risk of Rising Unemployment

Karachi (Digital Post) Karachi Pakistan’s marble and stone industry is facing a severe business crisis as high taxes, rising electricity costs, increased raw material prices and continued market slowdown have made it increasingly difficult for manufacturers and traders to sustain their operations. The All Pakistan Marble Industry Association has called for an immediate relief package and practical measures to revive the industry.

Chairman All Pakistan Marble Industry Association Muhammad Bilal Khan, Zonal Vice Chairman Sindh Balochistan Rahat Shah, former Zonal Vice Chairman Jamshed Khan Amazai, Member Mineral Committee FPCCI Asadullah Khan and other representatives expressed serious concern over the challenges confronting the marble and stone industry across the country.

According to the association, complicated mining procedures, rising raw material costs, heavy taxation, expensive electricity, increasing operational expenses and continued market sluggishness have severely affected the industry. The current situation is also creating concerns over declining employment opportunities in the sector.

The association particularly highlighted electricity theft and prolonged load shedding in Karachi’s Manghopir Marble Industrial Area as major challenges for industrial activity. According to industry representatives, repeated power outages keep machinery shut down for hours, disrupting production and increasing financial losses.

The association called on the relevant power utility and law enforcement agencies to take effective and indiscriminate action against those involved in electricity theft. It also stressed that the burden of electricity theft should not be transferred to industrial consumers who regularly pay their bills.

The association further stated that prolonged and unannounced load shedding is preventing manufacturers from completing domestic and international orders on time. Delays in production could adversely affect Pakistan’s marble and stone exports, while delayed shipments may also affect the confidence of international buyers and the country’s foreign exchange earnings.

According to the All Pakistan Marble Industry Association Sindh Balochistan Zone, the marble sector provides direct and indirect employment to a large number of people and supports thousands of families. From mining areas in Mohmand, Buner, Mardan, Khuzdar and Balochistan to factories and markets in Karachi, a substantial workforce depends on the industry.

The association urged the government to announce a special relief package for the marble and stone industry, simplify and improve transparency in mining procedures, reduce unnecessary taxes and additional costs, and provide preferential electricity rates for industrial consumers.

It also called for the immediate resolution of issues affecting mining areas in Mohmand, Buner, Mardan, Khuzdar, Balochistan and other parts of the country. The association stressed the need to encourage investment in modern mining and processing technology and provide manufacturers with loans on affordable terms and improved business facilities.

The association also demanded a comprehensive policy to increase Pakistan’s marble and stone exports. It proposed bringing the government, mine owners, manufacturers, traders and relevant institutions onto a common platform to formulate a coordinated strategy for the revival and development of the sector.

The association maintained that supporting the marble industry would help protect employment, promote business activity, increase exports and strengthen the national economy. It urged the government and relevant institutions to take immediate and practical measures to prevent further decline in the industry.