The prime minister also called for a comprehensive action plan for the skill training of Pakistani manpower in modern mining, polishing, chiseling and value addition
By Asghar Ali Mubarak
ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Friday decided to carry out reforms in the gemstones sector to promote the industry and enhance its exports. The prime minister, chairing a meeting to discuss the matters pertaining to the reforms in gemstones sector, said that he would personally head the steering committee to promote the industry and its reformation. He tasked Privatization Minister Abdul Aleem Khan to ensure the implementation of reforms.
PM Shehbaz Sharif said the government would launch a project in Gilgit Baltistan to elevate the standards of mining, chiseling and value addition of gemstones industry, assuring the federal government’s support to GB government in this regard. The prime minister said that unfortunately the gemstone sector was neglected during last 77 years and the precious asset was being wasted through conventional mining methods. He directed the authorities concerned to formulate an action plan of international standard within a month and take measures for its implementation.
The prime minister also sought a report on the practical measures for reforms in the gemstone sector and their outcome. He told the participants that the government would not allow smuggling of the gemstones and sought a report on the subject within a week, after consultation with the GB government. The prime minister also called for the priority measures to achieve the international certification of Pakistan’s gemstones. In the briefing, it was told that a total of 178 licenses had so far been issued for mining of gemstones.
It was told that the 80 percent of Pakistan’s gemstones exports consisted of raw materials and the promotion of the industry would help boost country’s exports and create jobs. The prime minister also called for a comprehensive action plan for the skill training of Pakistani manpower in modern mining, polishing, chiseling and value addition. The meeting was told that GB, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Azad Jammu and Kashmir had huge reserves of gemstones, but conventional methods were being used there causing the wastage of the asset.
In the meeting, proposals were put forward for reforms in the gemstone sector besides the development of a gemstones cluster in GB The prime minister tasked the privatization minister to implement the proposals and launch a pilot project in GB within a week.
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