PESHAWAR: While Khyber Pakhtunkhwa chief minister along with his small army of advisers and ministers at a crowded inaugural ceremony of gems and mineral show claimed that he would be going to China in April on a road show to woo investors, the local gems and mineral dealers decried how hard it was to even run an online business.

Shafique Ahmed, a dealer from Namak Mandi, said that in Afghanistan and Pakistan one could not open a PayPal account. Without such an account one could not imagine running an online business.

“One problem is that since foreigners don’t come here anymore, we should be running an online business but that is not possible without a PayPal account,” he said. He said that lack of publicity of such events was another problem.

“Do you see any foreigner here? Not even a Chinese,” said Mr Ahmed. He urged government to take concrete steps to facilitate the gems business as there was a huge potential in that sector.

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Gulbadeen, another stall owner at the 17th Gems and Mineral Show sponsored by provincial mineral development department, said that closure of Torkham impacted their business in Namak Mandi, Peshawar.

“When Pakistan-Afghanistan border is open, the Namakmandi market, dealing in gems and precious stones, is buzzing with activity as import and export is going on but sudden closure of Torkham badly disrupts the business,” he said.

The three-day show where almost 30 stalls displayed sparkling gems and mineral pieces of various colours from different parts of the province kick stared at a local hotel on Monday.

Emeralds, rubies, aqua marines, lapis lazuli, topaz, garnet and various semi precious stones and minerals cut in pieces were displayed at various stalls.

Khalid Khan, who had brought emeralds from Mingora, took pride in Swat’s specialty. He said that Swati Emerald was dark green and of better quality that’s why it was liked all over the world.

“We take this emerald to Thailand for refined cutting as such a facility is not available here. The government has never helped us with this,” said Mr Khan.

Nephrite, another green precious stone originally mined from Mohmand tribal area, was also favourite among Buddhists for it was considered holy and got good sales in China and Hong Kong.

Amjad Khan Khalil, another dealer, also demanded more government’s support, saying the province and tribal areas had tremendous potential for mineral and gems to become a booming business.

“Sometimes when we are brining precious stones from mines, we are stopped so many times by the law enforcement agencies. Such things are discouraging,” he said.

Chief Minister Pervez Khattak, who inaugurated the show, pledged to facilitate to investors, traders and business community. He said that PTI government approved the first mineral policy of the province and would soon set up a ‘mineral park’.

He said that leasing process was also made transparent. There was even a plan to set up an independent mines and minerals company, he added.

The chief minister said that his government was working day and night to conceive some projects in different sectors that would be taken to the Beijing Road Show in April to woo investors. He said that he would take up the problems of exporters with the federal government.

Mr Khattak announced setting up a geo-mineral processing zone in Rashakai, Buner marble city, industrial park and autonomous mines and mineral company. Senior Minister Sikander Sherpao also talked about the efforts of the provincial government to bring in transparent administrative management in the mineral development department and provide conducive environment to investors and businessmen.

The chief minister announced holding of gems and mineral show twice a year.

Published in Dawn, March 14th, 2017