ISLAMABAD, Oct 2 (DNA): Advisor to the Prime Minister, Haroon Akhtar Khan said here on Friday that a world-class gemstone centre would be established in Islamabad to facilitate the development of the gemstone sector and unlock its considerable economic potential.
The advisor was chairing a high-level meeting to discuss the establishment of a state-of-the-art gemstone centre, aimed at modernising the gemstone sector, strengthening local processing capabilities and enhancing export potential.
The meeting was attended by Prime Minister’s Coordinator Rana Ihsan Afzal, Additional Secretary Humaira Zia Mufti and Joint Secretary, Freedoon Akram Sheikh, said a press release.
The participants discussed plans for establishing a modern facility equipped with advanced gemstone processing, cutting, polishing and exhibition facilities to improve the quality, value and international competitiveness of Pakistan’s gemstones.
Haroon noted that Pakistan’s gemstone sector had the potential to generate billions of dollars in economic activity and substantially boost the country’s exports. However, significant quantities of precious stones were lost during mining and processing due to inadequate infrastructure, outdated extraction and processing techniques, and limited access to modern technology.
He highlighted that the formulation and implementation of the Gemstones Policy had been initiated to prevent the loss of valuable resources and promote the systematic development of the sector.
He emphasised that the adoption of modern technologies and improved processing techniques could substantially enhance the value of gemstones and help avert potential losses worth billions of dollars.
The advisor stated that the government was committed to providing the gemstone industry with the necessary infrastructure, modern processing facilities and appropriate exhibition platforms to bring the sector in line with international standards.
Haroon Akhtar Khan stressed that promoting local processing, cutting and polishing would enable Pakistan to capture greater value from its natural resources, improve the quality and marketability of its gemstones, expand exports and contribute to national economic growth.
The proposed gemstone centre is envisaged as an important step towards modernising the sector, reducing post-mining losses, strengthening value addition and positioning Pakistan’s gemstones more competitively in international markets, the press release added.
