Pakistan will establish three Pakistan gemstone centres in Gilgit-Baltistan, Azad Jammu and Kashmir and Islamabad to train workers in cutting, polishing and jewellery preparation, officials told Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif.
Officials briefed the prime minister during a high-level review meeting on aligning Pakistan’s gemstone mining and processing sector with international standards.
They said the government had identified land for centres in Gilgit-Baltistan and Azad Jammu and Kashmir, while authorities were selecting a site in Islamabad.
Shehbaz directed the Ministry of Planning to prepare a roadmap for increasing processed gemstone exports, according to the Prime Minister’s Office Media Wing.
The prime minister said Pakistan could raise exports by using its local precious-stone resources. Officials said Pakistan will host its first international gemstone exhibition in July 2026.
They said Pakistan has started collaboration with Sri Lanka and China to train skilled workers in specialised gemstone processing. The Ministry of Petroleum briefed the meeting on mining measures aimed at reducing waste.
Officials said joint projects with local communities would support the sector, while about 1,000 people are receiving training in internationally compliant gemstone mining techniques.
Shehbaz said transparency must guide the establishment of the centres and appreciated Special Assistant Haroon Akhtar and his team.
