DLP Report
PESHAWAR
Chief Secretary Shahab Ali Shah on Wednesday directed the quarters concerned to initiate strict legal action against illegal marble factories operating in parts of the provincial capital, as part of efforts to promote clean industrial development and curb environmental degradation in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
According to an official statement, these directives were issued during a meeting held to encourage environmentally sustainable industries under the government’s clean industrial development initiative, with particular focus on pollution caused by marble processing units in the Malagori and Warsak Road clusters.
Administrative secretaries of the relevant departments, the Commissioner of Peshawar Division and other senior officials attended the meeting.
Officials informed the participants that the provincial government had taken concrete steps to address environmental pollution in the Malagori and Warsak Road marble clusters. A formal action plan is being devised to regulate marble factories in these areas and control both air and water pollution.
The meeting was told that the presence of illegal marble units in Malagori and along Warsak Road had significantly aggravated environmental concerns. The unplanned growth of industrial structures, officials noted, had not only contributed to rising air pollution but also adversely affected groundwater resources. In view of the situation, the government decided to initiate legal proceedings against illegal units.
According to a briefing, more than 235 marble units are operating on Warsak Road, while over 250 units are functional in Malagori. The Malagori marble cluster extends over 170 acres. The government has begun preparing an action plan to regulate the existing cluster under standard operating procedures (SOPs) and align it with modern environmental requirements.
It was further decided that marble factories located on Warsak Road would be shifted in phases to a designated industrial park on Kohat Road in Peshawar, where infrastructure and facilities compliant with environmental standards would be provided. The move is aimed at protecting urban populations from pollution and relocating industries to properly notified industrial zones.
The chief secretary directed all concerned departments to ensure implementation of the projects within stipulated timelines and to maintain close coordination for effective execution. He emphasised the need to develop a comprehensive regulatory framework for the marble industry in Malagori and along Warsak Road in line with the provincial government’s environmental protection vision.
Reiterating the government’s commitment to balanced development, Mr Shah said that while promoting industrial growth, strengthening the local economy and safeguarding employment, environmental protection would be strictly ensured to achieve sustainable development goals.
