Exporters reject ban on gems' movement from Gilgit-Baltistan

All Pakistan Commercial Exporters Association (APCEA) has rejected restrictions on the movement of precious stones from Gilgit Baltistan to other parts of the country and demanded immediate withdrawal of the decision.
Speaking at a news conference at Peshawar Press Club (PPC) on Monday, Chairman APCEA, Atif Rasheed Khawaja said that Chief Secretary and Industries Secretary, Gilgit-Baltistan, through a notification issued on January 11, 2011, had banned movement of precious stones to other parts of the country.
He claimed that about 90 percent export of precious stones carving from mountain of Gilgit Baltistan were legally carried out to different parts of the country and injects millions of foreign exchange to the national exchequer. Despite this fact, decision of ban on movement was completely unjustified and tantamount to a conspiracy. He demanded federal and GB governments an immediate withdrawal of the decision. He also demanded high officials to take stern action against the officials engaged in finalisation of the plan.
Haji Mohammad Shaafi, Chairman Pakistan Gems & Mineral Association said that not only the poor workers of Gilgit Baltistan, but traders of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa would be directly affected due to the decision as it is a sole source of income of the area. He said exports of precious stones are carried out via Peshawar to different parts of country and rest of the world.
Though he said that illegal mining is needed to be discouraged, it is completely unjustified to impose ban on movement of precious stones. He cautioned that besides continuation of the protest movement, they could also move courts against this decision of the federal and provincial governments.
Mohammad Jalil Haider, president Gems & Mineral Association, Gilgit Baltistan said that all local miners and traders have out rightly rejected and condemned the decision. He said that the restriction is a reflection of the misunderstanding between the government and bureaucracy, and called for its immediate withdrawal. He observed that since creation of Gilgit Baltistan Mineral Department, miners and traders were being embarrassed through such tactics.
He observed that thousands of poor workers would suffer because of the decision and termed the decision tantamount to social injustice. He also demanded federal and provincial governments to take notice of the alleged massive level embezzlement in the mineral department.