Jean Claude Michelou, the vice-president of the International Colored Gemstone Association (ICA) highlighted Pakistan’s potential as a trading centre for gems and jewellery following his meeting with the Pakistan Gems and Jewellery Strategic Working Group (SWOG), according to reports.

Michelou said the sector needed policy reforms, an improvement in infrastructure and logistics and development of marketing and branding practices. He said that Pakistan can become a hub for gemstones if it is developed in a strategic manner as precious stones like ruby come into the country from Afghanistan and Tajikistan.

Pakistan’s own gemstone resources include peridot, kunzite, acquamarine, emerald, topaz, garnet, quartz, ruby, tourmaline and Kashmir sapphire. According to an earlier ICA report, Pakistan mining industry is still in its infancy and is largely rudimentary and unscientific. This latest meeting was part of a government initiative to improve the mining sector through the Pakistan Initiative for Strategy Development and Competitiveness (PISDAC), a project under USAID (United States Agency for International Development).