ISLAMABAD: The All Pakistan Marble Industries Association on Tuesday sought government’s support for the development of the marble industry, which has potential to earn multi-billion dollars for the country through exports.
During the formal meeting of the association’s newly-elected office bearers and executive committee members, APMIA Chairman Sheikh Mohammad Rizwan said the marble industry could bring billions of dollars in foreign exchange to the country if the government facilitates the exports of marble and granite products.
APMIA Senior Vice Chairman Babar Habib, Vice Chairman (North) Ali Akbar and Vice Chairman (South) Muhammad Nazir were also present on the occasion.
The association chairman demanded the government to pay special attention to the development of the marble & granite industry, as this could lead to rapid economic recovery.
“In line with the construction industry, the marble industry should also be given a relief in sales tax,” he said. “This will make it easier for the government to collect sales tax from every marble factory in Pakistan.”
He said in the budget 2020/21, like other small and medium enterprises (SMEs), the government failed to provide relief to the marble industry in the fixed sales tax scheme, while this scheme was very successful from July 2016 will June 2019.
Rizwan expressed determination to play a constructive role in safeguarding the interests of the industrialists associated with the marble sector.
Meanwhile, former APMIA chairman Muhammad Shakeel Munir said that Pakistan’s marble and granite sector has the potential to eliminate unemployment. “Pakistan has the largest variety of marble and granite which needs to be appreciated throughout the world,” he remarked.
