PESHAWAR: The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government on Monday approved setting up a gemstone laboratory and technical training and certification centre to promote the mineral sector.

The decision was made at a meeting of the Mineral Investment Facilitation Authority chaired by Chief Minister Mahmood Khan, according to a statement issued here.

The meeting was informed that private sector companies would be engaged for establishing the laboratory to develop technical and professional expertise for processing raw gemstones and developing them into refined branded product to be introduced internationally.

The private companies would provide machinery and trained human resource for the centre.

The proposed centre-cum-laboratory would be established at the existing building of the mineral testing laboratory in Hayatabad.

The centre would provide international level training for processing and certification of gemstones products.

The forum discussed the matters related to mining activities in the areas notified as guzara forests, and also decided to constitute a committee to be headed by the additional chief secretary to look into the matter and come up with proposals for controlled mining activities in such areas.

Administrative secretaries of mineral, forest, law and tourism departments would be the members of the committee.

On the occasion, Mahmood Khan said it was one of the top most priorities of his government to protect the forests and increase the forest cover to the maximum level. He also underlined the need of utilising the mineral resources without causing any harm to forests.

Published in Dawn, April 27th, 2021