ISLAMABAD, Oct 19: A global strategy will be evolved to utilize the full potential offered by a number of exquisite, high quality gemstones available in the country.

The decision was taken in a meeting held here on Friday which was presided over by the minister for science and technology, Prof Attaur Rahman.

The Ministry of Science and Technology will be responsible for coordination and final formulation of the strategy, while inputs will be taken from the Export Promotion Bureau (EPB), Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Resources, relevant provinces and all stakeholders in the private sector.

The EPB chairman, Tariq Ikram, and representatives of the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Resources, Geological Survey of Pakistan, Small Business Finance Corporation (SBFC), Sarhad Development Authority and Azad Kashmir government attended the meeting.

Speaking at the meeting, the minister said special attentions should be paid to exploration of new deposits and also to improve the quality of gem cutting/polishing etc. He said though different government agencies were working towards achieving this end, there was still need to integrate the efforts made by different departments and workout a macro framework to evolve an export-oriented national project.

Prof Atta said proposals had been submitted by the MMRC, the PCDIR and Sarhad Development Authority related to different aspects of the business.

The SBFC has also started a financial support programme for gems and jewellry industry. The EPB is establishing a gems and gemology institute in Peshawar, and a survey on “Strategy on mining, cutting, polishing and marketing of gemstones” has been prepared by the petroleum and natural resources ministry.

The minister said to avoid duplication and for best possible results, the science and technology ministry had taken upon itself the task to prepare a global strategy.

The main problems confronted by the gemstones industry and the export sector are lack of modern cutting/polishing and faceting facilities in the country, inadequate identification/evaluation facilities and consulting services, inconsistent non-sustainable production, inadequate export arrangements and training facilities.

The EPB chairman will coordinate with all stakeholders in the gemstone industry and come out with a comprehensive plan within 15 days. The global project, which will be prepared by the science and technology ministry in the light of this plan, will cover all components and fix responsibilities of various government departments that will be discharged in a given timeframe.