Islamabad, (Parliament Times) : National Productivity Organization (NPO) initiated a technical assistance program for the gemstone sector in collaboration with the Asian Productivity Organization (APO) in Tokyo, Japan.
Consultancy and workshops focused on gemstone identification, certification, cutting, and polishing techniques with experts from the Gems and Jewelry Institute, Thailand.
Sessions held in Peshawar, Gilgit, Islamabad, Rawalpindi, and Lahore aimed to enhance stakeholder capacity and foster economic growth through knowledge sharing and skill development.
The program involved industry professionals, associations, and international experts, promoting collaboration and economic prosperity in the gems and jewelry sector.
The experts shared knowledge and hands-on skills and practices for enhancing the capacity of the stakeholders, paving the way for broader collaboration and propelling towards sustained economic prosperity.
The objective is to promote international standards in gemstone products; provide comprehensive knowledge of cutting, polishing, designing, and heating techniques; and enhance understanding of best practices and technological advances in gemstone value chains. Engage relevant associations such as PGJTEA, APCEA, and PGMA, industry experts, and business professionals involved in the sector with international experts to learn the latest techniques and processes thereby leading to overall productivity enhancement within the sector.
The Asian Productivity Organization, Tokyo, Japan’s team was led by the Programme Officer, accompanied by senior international resource persons from Gems and Jewelry Institute, Thailand.
The delegation held consultancy sessions in Peshawar, Gilgit, Rawalpindi, Islamabad, and Lahore. In Peshawar, the delegation visited the Gems and Jewelry Training Center(G&JTC), KP TEVTA, Gems and Jewelry Center of Excellence, UET Peshawar, visited a potential gemstone market (Namak Mandi), and met local industry representatives from APCEA. The delegation also visited and conducted sessions at the lapidary training center under the GB administration with the assistance of the PGMA association. and later visited the Pakistan Institute of Fashion design, Lahore. A session on structural reforms and sharing of best practices in the gems and jewelry sector was also held at the Islamabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ICCI) and Rawalpindi Chamber of commerce and Industry (RCCI). Representatives of the PGJTEA association and other key stakeholders attended the sessions highlighting key sector issues, challenges, and opportunities. Later. the delegation will submit a report giving an overview and recommendations for the uplift of the gemstone sector in Pakistan.
Nature has bestowed Pakistan with the largest treasures of Gemstones. Some of these make Pakistan prominent in the mineral world. World’s most desired colored gemstones, such as emeralds, Ruby, Sapphire, Topaz, Aquamarine, and Tourmaline are found in Pakistan.
The northern and northwestern parts of Pakistan are shrouded by the three world-famous ranges called Hindukush, Himalaya, and Karakorum. These mountains are extremely rich in mineral deposits. The deep green emeralds of Sawat Valley and the rare pink Topaz of Katlang are some of the most precious gemstones in the world market.
Gemstones present in Pakistan can be found in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province in Swat, Dir, Mansehra, Kohistan, Peshawar, etc. In Gilgit Baltistan and AJK in Chilas, Hunza, Shigar, Baltistan, etc. in Baluchistan Province they are in abundance in Kharan, Chaman, etc.