Editor’s Note
This article highlights the untapped potential of Pakistan’s gemstone sector, as outlined by APCEA Chairman Minhajuddin Shah. It identifies key challenges—including marketing, infrastructure, and workforce development—while proposing the establishment of a dedicated gemstones hub as a strategic solution for economic growth.
Despite having great potential in gemstones, Pakistan has been unable to tap the riches due to poor marketing, improper business facilities, and an unskilled workforce.
said Minhajuddin Shah, Chairman of the All Pakistan Commercial Exporters Association (APCEA), in an interview with WealthPK.
He said APCEA planned to develop a gems city modeled after the modern gemstone market in Talad Ploy, known as the City of Gemstones, located near the traditional gems market of Chanthaburi in Thailand.
Minhajuddin said Pakistan is endowed with precious stones like emeralds, ruby, sapphire, and topaz.
He said the proposed gemstone city in Peshawar would be a major market equipped with all key features.
He added that a gems city should also be established in Islamabad to help boost exports of gemstones and other minerals.
Sharing APCEA’s vision, Minhajuddin said the gems city in Peshawar would include every facility, including training centers for quality lapidary work, synthetic production, and mining techniques.
He said APCEA also planned to provide short training courses and university-level formal education to students in gems and gemology, minerals, geology, and related fields.
Minhajuddin said the gems city would also feature special clearance and customs dealing booths, cargo handling, banking, money exchange, and transportation facilities.
The APCEA chairman sought the government’s help in establishing the gems city. He said the development of such a market would go a long way in creating job opportunities, value chains, and another industrial sector.
Credit: INP-WealthPk