MARBLE INDUSTRY OF

PAKISTAN

GROUP MEMBERS:
M.IZAAN SIDDIQUI
M.BILAL
M.ARSALAN
ROHAIL HUSSAIN
JAMAL TAHIR
 PARAMETERS TO BE DISCUSSED

INTRODUCTION
HISTORY
IMPORTANCE AND USES
WORLD SCENARIO
PAKISTAN SCENARIO
IMPORTS AND EXPORTS
PROBLEMS
GOVT POLICIES AND STEPS
FUTURE PROJECTIONS
CONCLUSION
RECOMMENDATIONS
MARBLE
The word "marble" derives from the Greek word, which
means "crystalline rock", OR "shining stone",
Marble is a metamorphic rock composed of recrystallized
carbonate minerals, most commonly calcite or dolomite.
Marble is commonly used for handicrafts and as a building
material.
HISTORY Of MARBLE IN PAKISTAN

In Pakistan, this industry started to develop in the last 60s

without any quality consideration.

At that time ,most of processing equipment was locally made

at Gujranwala and Lahore.

In last decade ,very few units were established in accordance

with international standards.
Physical Properties of Marble
Colour:
Marble is usually a light-coloured rock. When it is formed from a
limestone with very few impurities it will be white in colour.

Acid Reaction:
Being composed of calcium carbonate, marble will react in contact
with many acids, neutralizing the acid. A pharmaceutical product
known as "Tums" is a small calcium carbonate pill, sometimes
made from powdered marble that is used by people who suffer
from acid reflux or acid indigestion.

Ability to Accept a Polish:

After being sanded with progressively finer abrasives, marble
can be polished to a high lustre. This allows attractive pieces of
marble to be cut, polished and used as floor tiles, architectural
panels, facing stone, window sills, stair treads, columns and many
other pieces of decorative stone.
 Chemical Properties of Marble

Chemically, they are crystalline rocks

composed predominantly of calcite,
dolomite or serpentine minerals. The
other minor constituents vary from
origin to origin.
MARBLE PRODUCTION PROCESS
EXTRACTION
During the extraction process, massive cube-like pieces of marble are
cut out of the ground and transported from the quarry.

To minimize the risk of cracks, fissures and other aesthetic damage to

the stone, fabricators use a process known as "wire sawing" to gently
separate the marble. Two 3-inch wide holes are drilled perpendicularly
to each other.

A powerful engine applies massive torque to the flywheel, which

circulates the diamond-embedded wire at a very fast rate. Since
diamond is much harder than the marble, the friction quickly wears it
away, leaving a smooth cut plane.
MARBLE PRODUCTION PROCESS
POLISHING AND SEALING
The slab is laid face down and a machine with a finely-graded, diamond-
encrusted abrasive pad grinds down the surface of the slab until it is smooth
and vaguely reflective.
A worker (or machine, depending on the shop) then sprays on a uniform
coat of epoxy sealer onto the surface and leaves it to dry for 48 hours. Heat
lamps can expedite this process. Once dry, the slab is flipped over and the
process repeated for the opposite side.
 MARBLE PRODUCTION PROCESS
WATER JET CUTTING AND WET SAWING
After choosing a slab(s), the customer gives the dimensions of his
project (kitchen counters, ballroom floor or bathroom) to the retailer,
who maps the shapes onto the slab itself.
To cut these pieces out, fabricators traditionally used a process called
"wet sawing" where circular saws coated with tungsten carbide cut
through the slab while continuous streams of water spray on the blades
to keep them from overheating.
 IMPORTANCE AND USES

It contributed in the GDP at a present of 0.5%(2004-2005).

Its demand increases with investment in construction sector.

It is used in Buildings, Masjids and homes.

It creates large number of Jobs.

Its forward and backward linkages also provide jobs to many

people i.e Non-skilled, semi-skilled and skilled labors.
 WORLD SCENARIO
Dimensional stone are produced in more than 42 countries of
the world while 12 of these producers are dominant in the
international market i.e European countries and 3 from Asia
and Africa.

A major part of production is consumed locally by the

producing countries.

Italy is the world leader in marble,granite and other stone

sector.It is leading with 17% of the total worlds production.
 WORLD SCENARIO
The international marble and granite trade is marked $3.5 billion or 1.987
million tons in 2002-2003(Pakistan share was only 0.047 million tons i.e
0.2%).

Almost 50% of the worlds marble output is consumed in the Middle East,Far
East and European countries. Therefore, there is a great demand of marble in
these regions.

Pakistan has major deposits of high quality marble and granite in a wide range of
colours, shades and patterns.

Initial estimates indicate 166 billion tonnes of marble reserves across Pakistan.

In North West Frontier Province(NWFP) the Malakand, Mardan, Hazara,

Peshawer and Kohat divisions are high potential areas where quarrying is already
taking place.
 PAKISTAN SCENARIO
Pakistan has major deposits of high quality marble and
granite in a wide range of colours, shades and patterns.

Initial estimates indicate 166 billion tonnes of marble

reserves across Pakistan.

In North West Frontier Province(NWFP) the Malakand,

Mardan, Hazara, Peshawer and Kohat divisions are high
potential areas where quarrying is already taking place.
 Marble Deposits In Pakistan
1. Peshawar Division Deposits:
Good quality marble of white and various other colours in found
at two places:
1. Shahidmena area
2. Kumbela Knwar area.

2. Mardan District Deposits:

Best known deposits of marble, usually white and of uniform
texture is found at two places:
I. Gundari Tarko
II. Maneri.
Figure-1 shows the K-2 peak marble
 Marble Deposits In Pakistan
3. Nowshera Area Deposits:
Pink coloured marble of low quality is found in Nowshera area. Total reserves
amount to 3.8 million cubic ft.

4. Quetta Area deposits:

Large deposits of green, yellow and white marble are found in Quetta area.
Total reserves amount to 1,80,000 tonnes.
A few deposits also appear in
I. Chaghal district of Baluchistan and
II. Muzaffarabad areas of Azad Kashmir.
The reserves of green marble deposits are about 8.6 million cubic feet and
reserves of other qualities are estimating about 700 million tonnes.
 EXPORT
Pakistani marble is being export to more than 60 countries.

The 40% export of the marble was in the shape of handicraft

while ,the rest of 60% in slabs and bricks form.

The exports ammounted to approximately $21 million in the

year 2005-06,sjowing an increase of 28% than 2004-
05(approximately $16.4 million).
 Marble Export Of World In Million Tons (1 Year)

China 10
Pakistan 18
9
India
1
Turkey
Iran 12 11
Portugal
Italy
Brazil 8
Spain 15
16
 IMPORT
Pakistan only import the machine for the process
of mining, polishing and cutting.
Problems In Marble Processing
Lack of proper machinery to produce quality production.
Lack of awareness and facilitation in selecting appropriate
tools .
Untrained workers.
Non existence of quality control prices.
Poor raw material supply.
Ineffective market strategy.
Incapability in supplying consistent product.
GOVERNMENT POLICIES AND STEPS
GOVERNMENT POLICIES AND STEPS
 FUTURE PROJECTIONS
It is forecasted that the production increases with a compounded
annual growth rate of about 8% per annum.
In Pakistan this sector has a long term potential.
The expert estimate that the countrys export of marble,which is
presently $7 million, can be increased to $40 million within 3
years.
 SOME RECOMMENDATIONS FOR
GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS
There should be a proper government policy
for foreign and local investments in the sector.
Sector should meet the international safety
standards.
Modern technology should be used for
quarrying instead of dynamites.
Better marketing campaigns should be launch
to seek the interest of global and local
customer.
 CONCLUSION
This sector needs to be organized on modern lines. Induction
of modern technologies in the sector helps it to enhance the
productivity with efficiency .

Sector also needs to be scientifically equipped with ideas and

necessary steps to be taken for the well being of society and
its economy.