By Uzma Zafar
ISLAMABAD: Chinese investors have recently shown interest in establishing and investing in lapidary units along China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) route, which may help Pakistan achieve its $5 Billion Gems & Jewelry export target.
Talking to media Zhao Lanying who is running an import-export business for last two decades said that a large number of Chinese investment can be brought to Pakistan for setting up lapidaries and special industrial parks for cutting, polishing, faceting and carving of gemstones.
“I have years of experience with Pakistani traders and manufacturers, and I think setting up of gems and jewelry special industrial parks in Pakistan will help the development of gem industry of both countries,”Lanying said.
“Pakistan and Chinese government should join hands and collaborate with each other and learn from each other’s experience,” Lanying added, according to media The Chinese government may also invest in the extraction of gemstones as most of the gemstones get wasted due to indiscriminate blasting which can be reduced if modern mining machinery is used for extraction.
According to Gems, Jewelry and Minerals Task Force, Pakistan has the potential of earning $5 billion annually through the exports of precious stones, which will have a positive impact on the national economy and create millions of jobs. Prime Minister Imran Khan and his government are keen to take special measures to bring up this huge market, and a few major steps are in process to be taken in this regard. First a Jewelry City will be set up to pool resources, provide one-stop operations to address the problems that are faced by the sector and provide incentives to investors.
Pakistani embassies will also help to increase the exports of these precious stones. Moreover, Pakistan will get sector-related certification that will give access to the international market.
There will be advancement in research, and the latest technology will be used to enhance the capabilities of this sector instead of traditional practices that will increase the exports of these stones. CPEC and Gwadar port will also play a very important role in the enhancement of trade and exports of gemstones if the gems and jewelry special industrial parks and individual lapidary units are established along CPEC route.
Pakistan is the eighth largest producer in the world, having 99 kinds of precious stones. According to an estimate, Pakistan eats up 200 tons of gold annually. With proper management and implementation of relevant policy, it can be converted into a major export industry in the country. – Agencies
