ISLAMABAD: Expor­ters of unpolished gemstones have expressed concerns about customs officials’ highhandedness, which led to the failure of the Pakistani pavilion at an international exhibition early this month.

In a formal letter to Collector Customs, Islam­abad, Pakistan Commer­cial Exporters Associa­tion of Precious and Semi-Precious Stones Chairman Minhajuddin Shah All complained that due to the adamant attitude of a customs officer, the Pakis­tani gemstones could not be displayed at Hunan International Minerals & Gem Expo 2024, China.

The letter added that Deputy Collector Customs Ahmed Nawaz Luk stopped gemstone trader and exporter Muhammad Zarrar Khan at Islamabad Airport on May 12 when he was on his way to Hunan International Minerals & Gem Expo 2024, China, as he was taking along some stones for display in the exhibition.

The letter highlighted that Mr Luk stopped the exporter on the grounds that raw precious and semi-precious stones cannot be taken out of the country.

Published in Dawn, May 30th, 2024