Ministry to establish state-of-the-art gemstone centre at Islamabad

ISLAMABAD: Adviser to the Prime Minister on Industries and Production Haroon Akhtar Khan has said that the ministry has decided to establish a state-of-the-art gemstone centre in the federal capital to facilitate the development of the sector and unlock its considerable economic potential.

While chairing a high-level meeting here on Friday to discuss the establishment of a world-class gemstone centre in Islamabad, Haroon Akhtar Khan said that the establishment of the centre is aimed at modernizing the gemstone sector, strengthening local processing capabilities and enhancing export potential.

The meeting was attended by Prime Minister’s Coordinator Rana Ihsan Afzal, Additional Secretary Humaira Zia Mufti and Joint Secretary Freedoon Akram Sheikh.

Haroon Akhtar Khan observed that Pakistan’s gemstone sector had the potential to generate billions of dollars in economic activity and significantly increase exports. However, substantial quantities of precious stones were lost during mining and processing due to inadequate facilities, outdated techniques and limited access to modern technology.

The Adviser highlighted that the formulation and implementation of the Gemstones Policy had been initiated to prevent the loss of valuable resources and promote the systematic development of the sector. He emphasised that the adoption of modern technologies and improved processing techniques could substantially enhance the value of gemstones and help avert potential losses worth billions of dollars.

He further stated that the government was committed to providing the gemstone industry with the necessary infrastructure, modern processing facilities and appropriate exhibition platforms to bring the sector in line with international standards.

Khan stressed that promoting local processing, cutting and polishing would enable Pakistan to capture greater value from its natural resources, improve the quality and marketability of its gemstones, expand exports and contribute to national economic growth.

The proposed gemstone centre is envisaged as an important step towards modernising the sector, reducing post-mining losses, strengthening value addition and positioning Pakistan’s gemstones more competitively in international markets.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2026