K-P CM says country can earn substantial revenue by creating awareness and imparting proper training to workers
. PHOTO: FILE
The exhibition, showcasing gems and minerals of the province, began after a gap of 10 years at a local hotel on Monday. K-P Mines and Mineral Development Department and All Pakistan Commercial Exporters Association (APCEA) organised the event.
Precious stones, mineral specimens, ornamental stones, beads, gemstone carvings and gemstone made-ups will be exhibited during the three days at 60 stalls. Precious stones such as emeralds, sapphires and rubies mined from all over the province and polished at workshops at Namak Mandi were transported to the venue.
“This three-day extravaganza of precious jewels and minerals will now be held after every six months,” announced Chief Minister Pervez Khattak during the inaugural address. “K-P is rich with mineral resources that will be exported outside to earn substantial revenue for the country.”
It will provide an opportunity to the skilled craftsmen to exhibit their work and find buyers, he added.
The province, though rich in minerals, had failed to earn much revenue from it due to lack of proper training facilities, advanced methods of explorations and skills crafting due to which years old methods were being used to exploit these resources.
APCEA office for the last 30 years has been situated in a rented building while hundreds of craftsmen cram around it in Namak Mandi cutting and polishing the precious stones due to which most of the gems are exported as raw materials which do not earn enough revenue.
Almost all precious and semi-precious stones are available in the province. Pegmatite, tourmaline, topaz and garnet are being explored in Chitral, ruby is explored in Dir, emeralds in Swat and Shangla, topaz in different colours of pink, yellow, white and other shapes are found in Katlang area of Mardan, and ruby and sapphire in Kaghan and Naran valley.
“Our export is Rs350 million annually despite militancy and threats of extortion prevailing in the city for the last one decade,” says APCEA Chairman Amanuallah Khan. “K-P has more than 15 varieties of gemstones but the government has not been able to utilise its potentials in a proper manner.”
The chief minister put all the responsibility on the previous government for failing to provide proper attention to this sector.
Talking about his plans, Khattak said he is going to arrange a mineral show of the province’s minerals and gems in China to create awareness.
He added a minerals park will be established in the province while marbles city will be set up in Bunir district.
K-P’s Economic Zones Development Company Chairman Ghulam Dastagir said the event is being held after 10 years and shows the interest of the government in this sector.
The exports are meagre despite such huge resources. He added that 20 master trainers are coming on April 15, 2017 to train the local craftsmen. With the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor there will be more opportunities and efforts will be made to make these gems available in finished form, Dastagir added.
Published in The Express Tribune, March 14th, 2017.
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