GILGIT, Oct 23: The government has allocated over Rs60 million for the development of minerals in the Northern Areas, official sources said.

An official of the Northern Areas’ industries department said that the authorities concerned had prepared a plan to set up an institute for cutting and polishing gemstones in the region at a cost of Rs30.5 million.

He said in the second phase of the plan, they would give training to local people in gems’ exploration and mining, using scientific methods which would also help in the safe extraction of gems and other precious stones from rocks.

He said that the authorities had also established contacts with overseas firms to give out minerals’ exploration contracts and added that exhibition stalls of gems in different countries would be set up to create a greater marketing niche for local gems.

Sources said that minerals worth Rs300 million were being illegally taken out from various parts of the region due to lack of checking mechanism.