NWFP Directorate-General of Mines and Minerals has auctioned three emerald mines--two in Swat district and one in Shangla--to a private company, Luxury International. Two emerald mines are situated in Fiza Gutt, near Mingora City, and Shamozai of Matta, the worst hot spots of district Swat.
The mines had been dormant for the past 15 years, with no production. Initially, six parties participated in the bidding, of whom one was disqualified in pre-qualification stage, and two failed in meeting the conditionalities required for participation in the auction.
Thus three bidders participated in the open auction, of whom Luxury International was the winner by making the highest bid of Rs 50.75 million.
The Fiza Gutt emerald mines cover an area of 182 acres, while the Shamozai mine area is 76 acres and Gujjar Killi 56 acres.
Officials of National Accountability Bureau (NAB) were also present and witnessed the auction process.According to sources in the Directorate of Mines and Minerals, the company has already found packets of emerald mines in Gujjar Killi and had even started production of the precious stone.
The precious and semi-precious stones extracted from various parts of the country are aquamarine, diopside, emeralds, fluorite, garnets (in various colours), spodumene (hiddenite and kunzite), lapis lazuli, morganite, peridot, quartz, rubies (pink/purple), sapphires, spinels, topaz (pink, golden and colourless), tourmaline (in various colours), and zoisites. New deposits of gem materials continue to be discovered periodically.
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