Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has criticised slow progress on the Gemstones Project Pakistan pilot and asked officials for a time-bound action plan by next week. He made the remarks on Wednesday, October 14, while chairing a review meeting in Islamabad on the country's gemstones sector and its export plans. Officials used the meeting to brief him on the pilot, which covers gemstone exploration, processing, value addition and export preparation.
Delays and the prime minister's instructions
Sharif said the sector is a priority and that delays in related initiatives will not be accepted. He told the relevant authorities to clear every obstacle in the way of pilot projects and model mines so they can be completed early. The sources do not say which obstacles or causes of delay were behind the slow pace.
He also called for centres of excellence that would add value through better mining, cutting and polishing methods. Sharif argued that Pakistan has rich natural resources but loses billions of dollars a year to poor mining practices and the smuggling of precious stones. He asked for a full ecosystem covering exploration, mining, cutting, polishing and export preparation, and directed officials to develop a “Brand Pakistan” identity for gemstones, modelled on examples in the region.
Where the pilot stands
Officials told the meeting that 4.8 kanals of land has been handed over for a centre of excellence in Hussainabad, Skardu. Funds for the project are in place, and construction is expected to begin soon. Sites have been picked for comparable centres in Azad Jammu and Kashmir and in Islamabad. Officials said the Islamabad centre would operate from a temporary location until its permanent building is ready.
On policy measures, officials said geological mapping of gemstone-bearing areas has been finished. More exploration is planned in eight blocks spread across Gilgit-Baltistan, Azad Jammu and Kashmir and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. This year, Rs1 billion has been set aside for the sector through the federal development budget, known as the PSDP.
To support exporters, desks have been set up at 80 bank branches belonging to 10 banks in seven cities. Commerce Minister Jam Kamal and Planning Minister Ahsan Iqbal were among the ministers at the meeting, along with senior officials.
What happens next
Sharif has asked the relevant authorities to submit a full plan next week, with clear timelines for setting up the centres of excellence and carrying out other measures. The next checkpoint for the Gemstones Project Pakistan pilot is that plan. The sources do not give a start date for construction in Skardu, nor do they say how much of the Rs1 billion has been spent so far.
Aasan alfaaz mein
PM Shehbaz Sharif ne gemstones ke pilot project mein deri par naraazgi zahir ki hai aur officials ko agle hafte tak time-bound action plan dene ko kaha hai. Unhon ne kaha ke rukawatein door ki jayein aur model mines jaldi mukammal hon. Skardu mein centre of excellence ke liye zameen mil gayi hai aur kaam jald shuru hone ki umeed hai. Aam logon ke liye abhi qeemat ya bill mein tabdeeli ka zikr nahi hai, lekin yeh mining aur export ke liye ahem qadam hai.
