ISLAMABAD: Smuggling and a lack of attention towards value addition of emeralds is depriving Pakistan of hefty revenues.
“When emerald is smuggled in roughs, it is sold at too cheap a rate. After value addition, emerald products are sold at handsome rates with the tagging of other countries. In this way, the country-of-origin lags and intruders reap the yield,” gemmologist and miner Imran Babar told WealthPK while sharing the issue of why Pakistan lags behind in earning handsome profits from emerald exports despite having huge reserves.
Babar said, “Trafficking of emerald is like a conspiracy against the country. A strict official check is badly needed to stop malpractices.”
Globally, Colombia is the miner and producer of 70 to 90% of emeralds.
Compared to the first quarter of 2021 when revenues from emerald trade were $12.9 million, trade value leapt to $85.5 million in the same period of 2022.
Pakistan is unable to reap proper economic benefits from its massive emerald deposits due to a lack of sophisticated machinery. Emeralds from Swat valley in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province have been mined for the last 2,500 years. Emerald from Swat deposits is highly regarded for its exceptional transparency and deep green colour. It is estimated that the emerald mine in Fizagat area of Swat possesses about 70 million carats of this precious stone.
In a discussion with WealthPK, Shakirullah Orakzai, Research Associate/In-charge Gemmology Laboratory, National Centre of Excellence, Geology, University of Peshawar, said, “Emerald is the name of a rich green variety of beryl (beryllium aluminium silicate). There is a great misunderstanding between vanadium and emerald. Only green beryl is called emerald having traces of chromium. The colour tone can be varied but mostly it is dark green.”
“Emeralds originate in the quartz and are generally broken, but emeralds embedded in the adjacent softer, carbonate talc schist are normally intact and qualitative. It is just a myth that any person can tell about the true nature of gemstone whether it is an emerald or beryl by just eye vision. Without proper lab examination or any instrument test, it is not possible to say that the gem in hand is an emerald,” explained Shakirullah Orakzai.
Besides having deposits in Shamozai, Fizagat, Shangla, Barang, another location having deposits of emeralds has been traced in Kamal Khan village near Chakdarra, this year, the University of Peshawar gemmologist said.
He also informed WealthPK that enormous deposits of emeralds in Pakistan were yet to quantify. “Pakistan can get great economic benefits by trading the precious emeralds through strategic marketing, proper lapidary and crafting.”
From the olden days till date emerald is considered to possess the healing qualities to cure eyes, a host of ailments, mental health, epilepsy etc. Arab physician Avenzoar used its tincture to cure ailments. Emerald was also used to trace the signs of poison in foods and to cure the poisoned person. Egyptians considered it to cure infertility. Emeralds are also used as amulets, talismans, religious symbols and magical and astrological stones as well.
Emerald is one of the first mined gemstones used in jewellery and trade. In Greek mythology, Hebrew traditions, Greece, Rome, Egyptian and Babylonian lore, the emerald is considered as keeping a sacred value.
