Pakistan Stone Development Company (PASDEC) will up-grade 20 existing Quarries located in all the province. Quarries will be upgraded mainly with rented machinery. The funds for up-gradation are not sufficient to justify purchase of machinery. Up-graded quarry ready for square blocks will be handed over to the mine owner. These upgraded quarries may be using Machinery pools on rental basis.

The project will engage foreign and local experts to carry out the development of existing quarries within clusters, based on benchmarked and standard technology. The process of up-gradation will help tremendously reduce the Mining cost and in turn increase the productivity.

Bench making:

The main function of Quarry up gradation  is to create proper benching which will reduce the wastage at the quarrying level , PASDEC will  help mine owners in terms of advisory services  training and bench making  and quarry cultivation by international Consultant/Quarry Masters. 

Other benefits:

§  Will help miners to get the latest and up to date equipments and machinery on lease and rentals, which otherwise they cannot purchase.

§  Will increase the productivity.

§  Will reduce wastage.

§  Will increase mining revenues.

§  Will increase the awareness among the mine owners.

Selection Criteria for Quarry up Gradations:

As Up gradation of Quarries project is being launched for all over Pakistan, for the selection of potential mines all over Pakistan applications will be asked through advertisement in national newspaper from the interested mine lease owners who will be willing to benefit from these projects. After receiving application following will be the criteria for selection criteria for Quarry development.   

a.    Marketability of the Stone locally and Internationally (Material Testing)

b.    Importance of cluster: jobs, volume, value ;

c.    Initial Geological Survey of Mine by local Geologist .(For Initial Short Listing)

d.    Reserve analysis

e.    Infrastructure (Roads/accessibility, Electricity, Water etc) availability.

f.     Financial Position/ Investment of the mine owner

g.    Validity of Lease License 

h.    Final Short listing by international consultant/Geologist.  

i.      Agreement with Mine Lease Owner for Development  

j.      Willingness to commit own funds.