ISLAMABAD: The Prime Minister’s Steering Committee for Gemstones has given greenlight in order to give gemstones the status of industry and attaching it to the Ministry of Industries and Production which will benefit the sector and also help boost exports and earning of foreign exchange.
The committee that met here with Federal Minister Abdul Aleem Khan in the chair approved important decisions by agreeing on various reforms.
As per the recommendations of the sub-committee, it was agreed to attach gemstones to the Ministry of Industry by giving it proper status. Aleem Khan said, “We are moving forward with the cooperation and integrated measures of the government and the private sector for the promotion of the gems stones industry.” He added that currency exchange and export will increase while faster and purposeful decisions will be implemented for the development and improvement of this sector.
Other stakeholders attended the meeting including federal ministers, secretaries, senior officers and representatives of the private sector and discussed in detail the proposed reforms regarding gemstones.
The sector as an industry will benefit the country’s economy. Gemstones is a very important sector for the improvement of which the final approval will be taken from the Prime Minister on the proposed reforms including other relevant issues.
Aleem Khan said that this Steering Committee is keen to improve the infrastructure and provide a better platform for Gemstones which includes the consultation of Federal Minister for Petroleum Musadik Malik, Minister for Commerce Jam Kamal Khan and Minister for Industries Rana Tanveer Hussain. He further said that all the recommendations are aimed at the upgradation of gemstones and related sectors for which all decisions regarding gemstones will be taken by the private sector, in future. Agreeing on the formation of the council for gemstones, in the meeting, Aleem Khan clarified that the chairman of the gemstones council will be from the private sector who will have full authority and power.
Describing the meeting as purposeful, he appreciated the efforts of the participants and said that gemstones is value addition sector that should get maximum facilities.
Aleem Khan also issued instructions to various ministries and departments to resolve the related problems. In the meeting, various proposals were discussed in detail, including to activate the gemstones sector as a company instead of an authority. Federal Secretary Petroleum and senior officers highlighted their point of view on various aspects.
In the meeting participant of private sector offered thanks to the Federal Minister and Chairman Steering Committee Abdul Aleem Khan for consideration of their suggestions regarding gemstones. Abdul Aleem Khan indicated that soon Members of the Steering Committee and ministers will visit Gilgit-Baltistan (GB), KP and Azad Kashmir to review the performance and process of existing institutions active in the field of gemstones.