|
Introduction:
Pakistan is a country with a population of more than 150 million people and a rich tradition of craftsmanship in jewellery manufacturing. Skilled/semi-skilled labour force is available at relatively lower rates, which offers a comparative advantage to the country.
Pakistan is also blessed with vast natural reserves of precious and semi precious coloured gemstones, including ruby, emerald, tourmaline, garnet (pyrope, almandine, rhodolite, demantoid, spessartite and hessonite), topaz, peridot, aquamarine, spinel, pargasite, diopside, moonstone, serpentine jade, epidote, pink beryl (morganite), purple beryl, sphene, zoisite, lapis lazuli, turquoise, kunzite and almost all known varieties of quartz.
Keeping the above potential in perspective and growth trends of the global market, Government of Pakistan has recently formed Pakistan Gems & Jewellery Development Company (PGJDC) – a non-profit public/private entity for the development of the Sector. The main objectives of PJGDC are to ensure the implementation of the Strategy formulated by SMEDA in partnership with USAID for general uplift and increasing the competitiveness of Gems & Jewellery Sector in the country.
PGJDC, which has the support and backing of President Gen. Pervez Musharraf and Prime Minister Mr. Shaukat Aziz, has been allocated Rs. 1.4 billion for its developmental projects and Rs. 150 million for its operational expenses. The success of two years of consultative exercise which led to the formation of PJGDC would have been impossible without the personal attention and encouragement given throughout by of Mr. Jehangir Khan Tareen, Minister for Industries, Production & Special Initiatives.
This consultative process of value chain analysis, gap identification and pilot project identification was led by private sector stakeholders representing all the four provinces and federally administered territories. The result was the first ever mine-to-market strategy based on first hand information rather than relying on the secondary data developed in Pakistan.
The main strategic initiatives of the Gems & Jewellery Strategy cover the following areas:
- Geological & Exploratory Surveys of Gem bearing areas for scientific quantification of existing gemstone deposits and identification of new ones.
- Introduction of Modern Technology and Methods of Mining.
Establishment of Gem Exchanges at Karachi, Peshawar and Quetta.
- Development of Cutting Centres in Peshawar, Karachi and Lahore.
Developing Training Facilities in, Gemmology & Gem Cutting/Polishing and Jewellery Designing & Manufacturing.
- Quality Control- Hallmarking and Assaying Facilities for Gold Jewellery and Testing laboratories for Gem Identification & Certification.
- Marketing and Branding Initiatives (Domestic & International).
Policy/regulatory changes to create an enabling business environment for boosting exports and local trade.
- Development of Infrastructure, i.e., logistics, financial services, insurance and MIS system etc.
Contact Details:
Pakistan Gems & Jewellery Development Company - PGJDC
A Subsidiary of PIDC, formed under Section 42 of Companies Ordinance, 1984.
Ministry of Industries, Production and Special Initiatives, Government of Pakistan.
Address: M-3 Mezzanine Floor, Regent Plaza Hotel & Convention Center, Shahra-e-Faisal, Karachi, Pakistan.
Tel: (0092-21) 5631394-7
Fax: (0092-21) 5631398
Email: info@pgjdc.org |
