PESHAWAR - Small and Medium Enterprises Development Authority (Smeda) and Frontier Mine Owners Association organised a joint workshop in Karak to discuss current scenario and future course of action for development of gypsum cluster of Kohat Division, said a press release issued on Sunday.

Planning Commission, Ministry of Planning, Development and Reforms engaged Smeda under the Vision 2025 to undertake a comprehensive study on cluster-based mineral sector transformation plan.

The workshop was chaired by Abdul Qayyum, member PSC. As many as 25 prominent gypsum mine owners, processors and traders participated in the workshop.

The stakeholders discussed in detail the issues faced by gypsum cluster in Kohat and the gypsum value chain.

They identified major issues including poor access roads, mineral act related issues, unavailability of loans and heavy machinery to mine owners, absence of facilities to mine workers, limited markets for gypsum products, and gas and electricity problems.

The participants suggested that in order to address infrastructure related issues, the government should go beyond committees and come up with separate mineral magistrates. Similarly, mine lease holders should be given loans out of the collected royalty.

They emphasised the need of common machinery pool for the gypsum cluster on the model of marble machinery pools of PASDEC and CIPK.

The stakeholders expressed that as low-price gypsum products required the industry to be established within the closest proximity to the mine areas; therefore the government should ensure separate electric grid station and gas connections, especially to the plaster producers. The help of government in identification of efficient machinery and market venues was also requested.

The participants appreciated the initiative of the Smeda under the project of the Planning Commission of Pakistan, to having organised a gypsum specific productive workshop.