Staff Reporter
Rawalpindi
The Rawalpindi Chamber of Commerce and Industry (RCCI) will hold a three-day second Gems and Jewelry Exhibition on August 23 in the federal capital. According to RCCI President Malik Shahid Saleem, the exhibition would provide an opportunity to the businessmen from across the country to showcase the best Pakistani gemstones, diamonds, jewellery, watches and mineral specimens. The RCCI chief, in a statement, said the main purpose of the expo was to attract foreign investment in non-conventional sectors like gems and jewellery, and to promote small and medium enterprises (SMEs). He said more than 60 stalls of different items, including precious stones, gems, ornaments and silver, and gold and diamond jewellery would be set up. B2B conference would also be held on the sidelines of the expo, he added. Pakistan always focused on traditional sectors to increase exports, he said, adding “We are looking for new opportunities and sectors like gems and jewellery to attract foreign investment as countries like Thailand, Sri Lanka and Central Asian states have shown interest. “Pakistan is rich in natural resources of gems and stones. The mineral-laden mountains in Pakistan have rich natural resources. The country is home to numerous arrays of gemstones. Similarly, our workers and experts are also skillful.” The government , he said, should come forward and give incentives to reduce taxes on import of machinery and other raw material being used in the sector. Malik Shahid said Pakistan had enormous wealth of expensive gems such as ruby, emerald, tourmaline, garnet, topaz, peridot, aquamarine, spinel, pargasite, diopside, moonstone, pink topaz, sapphire, zircon, feldspar, agate, serpentine jade, epidote, pink beryl (morganite), purple beryl, sphene, zoisite, lapis lazuli, turquoise and kunzite etc.
