New Delhi, Oct 31: Onyx, the naturally occurring green marble of Pakistan, is fast conquering the Indian handicraft market, with a variety of products that are being made out of it. Infact beautiful handicrafts and showpieces like flower vases, ash trays, table lamps, candle stands, clocks, bowls, jars, writing table sets, paper weights, jewellery boxes, animal figures and birds are made from this stone. Onyx chess set with classical style pieces is a work of art, says Shahid Hussain Gammeryani, an exporter from Pakistan.

"There is a big market for these products in India, US, Korea and Germany and the Pakistan's export promotion bureau is doing its best to promote the export of these handicrafts," says Gammeryani, who was here recently to participate in a fair.
"We have been coming to India regularly in different fair without any problem of visa or other formalities... The India trade promotion bureau invites us to all its fairs because of the huge demand for onyx stone products in India," he says.
However, Gammeryani rues that because of no direct air links between the two countries, they have to come through the Dubai route, which increases the cost of the products. Bureau Report