Pakistan: GGAPCP welcomes the establishment of the National Gems Authority
Wire desk byline Sourced from Xinhua, Dawn, Arab News, Anadolu and Minute Mirror. Translated and abridged by the GSRRA Desk.
The Gold and Gems Art Promotion Council of Pakistan (GGAPCP) has welcomed the federal government’s decision to establish the country’s first National Gems Authority, describing it as a historic and highly encouraging step for Pakistan’s gems and jewellery industry.
President of the Council, Muhammad Ahmed, said on Monday that the establishment of the Authority will have a far-reaching and positive impact on the country’s gems sector.
Pakistan is blessed with vast reserves of precious and semi-precious gemstones, but due to inadequate policies, lack of standardization, branding, and marketing, the country has not been able to realize the true potential of this valuable industry, he observed.
He further stated that the National Gems Authority will significantly enhance Pakistan’s gemstone exports and help promote Pakistani gemstones in international markets under their rightful national identity.
Muhammad Ahmed expressed confidence that the Authority will help remove administrative, technical, and commercial barriers hindering gemstone exports, resulting in increased foreign exchange earnings and a stronger national economy.
He added that due to the absence of effective government policies and inadequate attention, Pakistan’s gems industry had been facing a steady decline, forcing many skilled artisans and professionals to leave the sector.
He hoped that the new Authority would revive the industry through modern technology, training, certification, research, and compliance with international standards.
The President of the Council urged the government to establish offices and provide facilities of the National Gems Authority in all provinces so that exporters, traders, and stakeholders across Pakistan can benefit equally from its services.
He also emphasized that representatives of the gems and jewellery industry should be included in the Authority’s governing and advisory bodies to ensure practical, industry-driven policymaking and effective implementation.
Reference Link: – https://www.brecorder.com/news/40431028
Zamir Ahmed Awan is the founder and Chair of the Global Silk Route Research Alliance, a think tank in Islamabad. He studied engineering at Shanghai University in the 1980s, and years later he went back to China as Pakistan's science counsellor in Beijing, from 2010 until 2016, working on science and higher education cooperation between the two countries.…
