PESHAWAR: A world standard testing, cutting and polishing laboratory will be set up in Pakistan to help increase the quantity and quality of gemstones in the country, especially in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

This was announced by the chief executive of the International Brands Limited (IBL), a distribution company, during a meeting with Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Governor Shah Farman at the Governor House here on Wednesday, according to a statement.

The IBL chief said the laboratory would be established in collaboration with the HRD Antwerp Belgium, a globally recognised entity for certification and authentication of precious stones and jewellery.

Representatives of local gemstone dealers were also present.

The participants were informed that despite having huge potential in production of gemstones Pakistan was unknown in the global market due to unavailability of internationally-recognised certification and authentication of raw material, cutting and polishing of precious stones.

The meeting was informed that currently 95 per cent treasure of colour stone from Pakistan was smuggled to other countries as rough stone with as low as US dollar 10 per caret, which was available in the international market from $2,000 to $5,000 per caret after being processed. This was all because of non-recognition of Pakistan’s gemstones authentication and certification.

Governor Shah Farman welcomed the proposal for establishing the laboratory in Pakistan and said the KP province was rich in precious gemstones, but unfortunately the industry could not contribute to the economy due to its non-certification and non-authentication.

He expressed interest in getting the Pakistani gemstones recognised in the global market to not only bring economic prosperity to the country but also lift the standard of gemstone dealers.

Trade Commissioner of Belgium Embassy Abid Hussain and a representative of the PM’s Task Force on Gemstones also attended the meeting.

Published in Dawn, January 7th, 2021