Marble finishing, technology upgradation: Ministry forms four technical groups

The Ministry of Industries and Production has set up four technical panels to advise on marble finishing, upgrading technology, adding value and promoting exports, according to Business Recorder. Advisor to the Prime Minister for Industries and Production Haroon Akhtar Khan made the announcement while leading a Steering Committee session on the marble and natural stone policy in Islamabad on Thursday. The panels will look for workable answers to sector-specific problems and sketch a path to improve the industry's standing in overseas markets.

Rana Ihsan Afzal, the prime minister's coordinator on commerce and industry, and Ahsan Ali Mangi, the ministry's secretary, joined private-sector delegates at the session. Speakers from the private sector pointed to old quarrying methods, limited use of new technology, logistics bottlenecks and weak value addition as key obstacles. They argued that traditional blasting causes considerable marble loss, which shrinks usable output and weakens overall productivity.

Proposed measures also include exhibitions dedicated to the sector, promotion of marble handicrafts and public awareness on the stone's durability for construction. Khan pledged to coordinate with industry stakeholders and build a broad framework for modernising and growing the sector. The committee aims to turn the goals of the National Marble and Natural Stone Policy for 2026 to 2030 into practical steps for sustainable industrial development and exports.