Pakistan Stone Development Company (PASDEC) in collaboration with United Nation Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) is launching a series of marble mosaic and inlays training session to promote women skill development and entrepreneurship culture in the country. This was stated by CEO PASDEC Ihsanullah Khan at the inauguration ceremony of the proposed gender training, said a press release issued here.
Speaking on the occasion, he said that the training sessions will commence in Islamabad during August 2011 for three months. PASDEC intends to train more than 60 artisans to develop the entrepreneurial culture in Pakistan. This culture will create the sense of self employment and elevate the poverty in the remote areas of the country. He highlighted the marble mosaic and inlay work and said that mosaic is the art of decoration with small pieces of stone, colored glass or other material. Marble mosaic work is renowned not only for its design and aesthetic beauty but also because each product is made by intricate handwork. He also said that under the special initiative, PASDEC is promoting the enterprise household models to support women enterprising activities for generating employment in rural labour market and produce value-added products of marble mosaic which is used in construction, furniture and interior decoration equally.
Khan added that PASDEC is deternined to develop the Marble and Granite sector on modern lines for transforming it into dimensional stone industry. PASDEC has introduced the mechanized quarrying practices through state of the art machinery in Pakistan. He pointed out that in 2007 the total Marble exports were $23 million, in 2011 only the Marble Handicrafts, Inlay and Mosaic exports are $24 million. He added that the objective of this training is to strengthen the cluster by providing skilled worked force for production of high quality value added product of Mosaic, Handicraft & Inlay so that enterprises and individuals of this cluster are more prepared to catch all opportunities. Additional Secretary Ministry of Production, Ameer Tariq Zaman expressed his views that Ministry will stretch its full arms to help PASDEC to create and strengthen the cluster by providing skilled work force for production of high quality value added product of Mosaic, Handicraft and Inlay so that enterprises and individuals of this cluster are more prepared to catch all opportunities. Chairman APMIA Hidayat Ullah Khan while speaking in the ceremony said that such trainings are aimed at capturing the value that the sector is lacking due to unavailability of a comprehensive processing facility and skilled work force. It will demonstrate top quality stone mosaic making techniques and practices. The key objective is to increase exports from Pakistan and development of human capital in the country by imparting training to young females and males. Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FPCCI) Chairman Standing Committee for Mine and Minerals Shahid-ur- Rehman appraised the efforts of PASDEC for sector development and marble mosaic training. He said that marble mosaic women skill development programme will greatly benefit the establishment of marble mosaic cottage industry at local community level. This training will encourage investment and business opportunities in marble and granite sector to stakeholders.