QUETTA, August 2: The All Pakistan Gems Merchants and Jewellers Association, Balochistan, has termed the new trade policy “gems and jewellers-friendly”. Speaking at a press conference here on Tuesday, association’s HE zonal chairman Mohammad Usman said that the policy would prove a milestone in the development of various sectors, especially gems and jewellery.

He said that the commerce minister had accepted a long-standing demand of the association, declaring gems and jewellery an industry.

“The decision would resolve the financial problems of the exporters involved in this business,” Mr Usman said and added that the extension of days from 90 to 180 for the export of jewellery and period of receiving of remittances from 120 to 240 days would provide a relief to the exporters.

He said the exporters of gems and jewellery had been facing difficulties because of non-development export culture. Mr Usman also lauded the decision to allow duty-free import of machinery used for gems and jewellery and said that it would develop the mining industry of gems.