Smeda for adopting modern mining techniques

Small & Medium Entrepreneurs Development Authority (Smeda) has stressed on bringing improvement in gems-cutting industry and called for utilisation of modern mining techniques for quality production. The call was made during a one-day training workshop on gems-cutting here in the office of All Pakistan Commercial Exporters Association (APCEA) on Wednesday. Those who addressed the workshop included Smeda consultant and expert on export marketing of gemstone, Saeed Akhtar and Chairman APCEA, Muhammad Asif Khan. Saeed Akhtar said that United States has announced 14 million dollars for the global gems and jewellery industry, in which India has a share of 2 percent and United Arab Emirates (UAE) 7 percent. He said that Pakistan is also spending a handsome amount on the promotion of this sector.
Expressing concern over the closure of the emerald mines in the province, the Smeda consultant called for immediate start of operations in these mines. He said that Peshawar is a big market of precious stones, and a lot of investors are keen to invest in this sector. However, he said that it required the opening of the closed mines and improvement in cutting and polishing of the gemstones.
Speaking on the occasion, chairman APCEA, Muhammad Asif Khan lauded the role of Smeda in the promotion of the export of precious stones. He said that the province had got international fame due to exploration of different varieties of precious stones, saying that foreign investors are showing interest in this sector.
He told the participants of the workshop that during last financial year, the association had exported precious stones worth Rs 10 million, while exports worth Rs six million had been made during last nine months of the current financial year.
Director General, Export Promotion Bureau (EPB), Shujauddin Siddiqui said that the future of the gem sector is bright. But he stressed on provision of maximum facilities to the exporters, usage of modern mining techniques and improving quality of the products.
He said that export promotion bureau is extending all possible facilities to the exporters of precious stones, and work on the framing of a comprehensive policy on gemstones was in progress, to bring Pakistan at par with her neighbours in this sector.