Islamabad: In a decisive move to uplift the gemstone sector, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif chaired a meeting to outline reforms aimed at enhancing the export potential of Pakistan’s precious stones. The initiative focuses on modernizing the industry and establishing a pilot project for stone mining and value addition in Gilgit-Baltistan.

According to Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, the Prime Minister will personally lead the steering committee dedicated to these reforms. He has tasked Minister for Privatization Abdul Aleem Khan with the implementation of these changes. The meeting underscored the need for a modern action plan to be formulated and executed within a month, emphasizing the urgency of introducing practical measures to revive the neglected sector.

Shehbaz Sharif announced that the Federal Government will provide full financial support to Gilgit-Baltistan for a pilot project that adheres to international standards for stone mining, carving, and value addition. He highlighted the historical oversight of the gemstone industry, noting that traditional mining methods have squandered valuable resources for 77 years.

The Prime Minister also issued directives to combat the smuggling of precious stones and to secure internationally recognized certifications for Pakistani gemstones. A report on these issues is expected within a week in consultation with the Gilgit-Baltistan Government.

Furthermore, the meeting revealed that Pakistan has granted 178 major licenses for gemstone mining and identified 18 types of precious stones available within the country. Yet, 80% of the gemstone exports currently consist of raw materials. The planned reforms aim to enhance these exports, create jobs, and equip the Pakistani workforce with vocational training in modern mining techniques, cutting, polishing, and value addition of stones.