G-B govt asked to lift ban on gemstones transport

TDAP terms ban a violation of trade policy.

GILGIT:

The Trade Development Authority Pakistan (TDAP) has asked the Gilgit-Baltistan (G-B) government to lift its ban on transportation of gemstones.

In a letter to the G-B chief secretary, TDAP maintained that the ban should be lifted as it is “illegal” and a violation of the trade policy, adding that transportation of precious stones is not banned anywhere else in the country.

TADP made the request after receiving a letter from the G-B Gemstones and Mineral Association, in which the association urged the authority to play its role in lifting the ban on the transportation of gemstones from G-B, if not on its mining. The association maintained that the ban has left hundreds of locals associated with the industry jobless.

G-B hosts over 500 varieties of gemstones including amethyst, aquamarine, spinel, corundum, emerald, garnet, peridot, ruby, pyrite, moonstone, fluorite, pargasite, quartz and tourmalines. Last year, the G-B Legislative Assembly (GBLA) imposed a ban on mining and transportation of gemstones from G-B on grounds that the stones are being taken away at throwaway prices, causing great loss to the national exchequer and to the locals. In the ruling, the speaker also said that a committee comprising members of the Gilgit-Baltistan Council and GBLA will be set up to legislate on the issue.

When contacted, an official of the G-B government, requesting anonymity, said that the ban on mining and transportation of gemstones will be discussed soon to formulate a policy.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 18^th, 2012.