The Ministry of Commerce has endorsed a proposal to establish a dedicated Minerals Division, modeled after the Petroleum Division, to provide specialized oversight and ensure effective coordination between the federal and provincial governments through the Council of Common Interests (CCI).
The Ministry highlighted that Pakistan’s gemstone sector holds immense potential to drive economic growth, generate foreign exchange, and create employment opportunities. Rich deposits of precious stones such as emeralds, rubies, aquamarines, and topaz are found in Gilgit-Baltistan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, and Balochistan, yet the sector remains largely underdeveloped due to unregulated mining, limited value addition, and rampant smuggling.
In its assessment, the Commerce Ministry supported the creation of a dedicated Gems Authority to oversee the entire value chain — from mining and certification to exports. Pakistan’s gemstone exports currently stand at only $5–7 million annually, a fraction of the country’s true potential.
The proposed entity would promote environmentally responsible mining, enhance training in gemstone cutting and polishing, strengthen quality assurance, and expand international marketing in markets such as China, Thailand, and Europe.
While the Commerce Division offers strong export facilitation and trade promotion capabilities, the Ministry noted that it primarily handles downstream activities and may not fully address mining and production-related challenges. Conversely, the Ministry of Industries and Production could provide a more integrated approach by linking gemstone processing with skill development, industrial estates, and mineral-based industries.
During a meeting of the National Assembly Standing Committee on Commerce, MNA Gul Asghar proposed the establishment of a separate Minerals Division to manage the broader minerals sector, including gemstones. The Commerce Ministry supported this idea, stating that the minerals sector has unique geological and fiscal dynamics that merit dedicated attention.
A Minerals Division, it added, could work closely with the Geological Survey of Pakistan for resource mapping, ensure compliance in mining operations, and promote sustainable development.
The Ministry further recommended that the Standing Committee guide the government on the institutional placement of the proposed Gems Development Authority, emphasizing that its establishment could help formalize the gemstone trade and increase exports tenfold within a decade.
