Gems and jewellery sector witnesses infighting

Private sector and public representatives speak out against each other.

KARACHI: At a time when Pakistan’s gems and jewellery exports have crossed the $1 billion mark for the first time in history, friction between the top private sector representative body and a government representative body seems to have cast a shadow of uncertainty over its future trajectory.

The Pakistan Gems and Jewellery Development Company (PGJDC), a public sector company that works under the Ministry of Production, will reportedly organise a four-day exhibition in September this year, primarily to provide an additional stimulus to exports.

Speaking at a press conference on the upcoming exhibition, PGJDC Chief Executive Bakhtiar Khan said on Wednesday that the event will bring foreign buyers and local artisans and exporters together under one roof.

Taking credit for the phenomenal rise in exports of gems and jewellery, he said that Pakistan’s exports in this category have increased from approximately $47 million to $1.2 billion since the inception of the PGJDC.

“Pakistan International Gems and Jewellery Exhibition (PIGJE) 2013 will help enhance exports and capture more markets.”

On the other hand, the All Pakistan Gems Merchant and Jewellery Association has demanded that the federal government remove all the representatives of the PGJDC and “save the industry”.

They say that top officials of the PGJDC are political appointees and are pursuing personal agenda in running the organisation, and that their activities are in direct conflict with the most basic interests of the organisation and the sector.

In response to the allegations, PGJDC Chairperson Senator Semeen Siddiqui said the people who are raising fingers at her and her company want personal benefits from PGJDC. “When we did not bow to their unlawful demands, they started running a dirty propaganda campaign against our organisation,” she claimed.

Bad planning or coincidence?

It has come to light that PIGJE 2013 will be held at the Pearl Continental Karachi from September 26 to September 29, clashing exactly with the dates of another top national event.

On those same days, the Expo Pakistan 2013 will be taking place at the Karachi Expo Centre at a distance of about 16-18 kilometres from PIGJE 2013.

Some industry officials say it would have been better if the government agencies had collaborated with each other and saved public funds, given that they are of a similar nature.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 21^st, 2013.

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