ISLAMABAD: The government of Pakistan has expressed a renewed commitment to advancing the country’s gemstones industry by focusing on skills development, value addition, investment, branding, and exports. Haroon Akhtar Khan, the Advisor to the Prime Minister on Industries and Production, emphasized this commitment while chairing a high-level meeting of the Steering Committee on the development and promotion of the gemstones sector in Islamabad.

According to Radio Pakistan, the meeting reviewed strategies to enhance the sector’s growth, including promoting investment, improving value addition, expanding market access, and boosting exports. Haroon Akhtar Khan announced plans to identify new mining blocks for topaz, ruby, and other valuable gemstones across various regions to facilitate systematic and high-quality mining operations. He assured that provincial governments would be involved to ensure coordinated and effective policy implementation nationwide.

The committee learned that upcoming gemstones expos in Karachi and Islamabad would offer platforms for local businesses, miners, traders, exporters, and international buyers to forge new business connections. Additionally, a training center dedicated to the gemstones and jewelry sector is set to open in Quetta. Centers of Excellence for the gemstones sector will also be established in Gilgit-Baltistan, Azad Jammu and Kashmir, and Islamabad.