The Prime Minister recommends granting industrial status to the gems and precious stones sector

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Wednesday directed the authorities concerned to take necessary steps to provide industrial status to the gems and precious stones sector.

The Prime Minister, while chairing a meeting on the gems and gemstones sector, apart from the immediate launch of the Gems and Jewelery Development Enterprise, called for necessary regulations and consultations with provinces and the private sector to revitalize the sector.

He said that most areas of the country, especially Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Gilgit Baltistan and Azad Jammu and Kashmir, are rich in vast natural resources that need to be fully exploited.

The Prime Minister also called for international certification of stone products and their display at international exhibitions.

He also directed the initiation of training programs to promote value addition of stone products and the preparation of geological maps of KP, GB and AJK for the availability of gemstones.

Meeting participants were told that a strategy was being developed to promote investment in the field of gems and rare stones.

The meeting was attended by Federal Ministers Ahad Khan Cheema, Muhammad Aurangzeb, Jam Kamal Khan and Dr Musaddik Malik, State Bank Governor Jameel Ahmed and relevant senior officials.