Friday, May 13, 2011

Gems and Jewellery Exports Reaches to $649 million

ISLAMABAD April 16, 2011: The gems and jewelery sector of the country achieved significant milestones during last three years as the exports in the sector jumped from US $ 289 million in 2008-09 to $ 649 million in 2009-10.

Since the government has made the intervention to develop the Gems and Jewelery Sector with the objective of Enhancing Foreign Exchange Earnings from Exporters, we have seen major jump from $ 289 million in 2008-09 to $ 649 million in 2009-10, sources in Pakistan Gems and Jewellery Development Company (PGJDC) told Associated Press of Pakistan (APP) on Monday.

The sources said that over the last three years the company has successfully launched projects of Gems and Jewellery Training and Manufacturing Center and Gem Lab in six different cities of the country including Karachi, Lahore, Quetta, Peshawar and Gilgit to enhance the value chain productivity from mine to market.

These projects have started contributing to the development of the industry at a very significant level providing a lucrative platform to the sector to develop their trade locally and internationally, the sources added.

The company has so far successfully trained more than 4100 people in various segments of the industry. The trainings that the company has launched include Manual Jewellery Designing, Computer Aided Jewellery Designing (on Matrix with CAD/CAM technology), Gemstone Identification, Gemstone Faceting, Gemstone Carving, Colored Gemstone Grading, Diamond Grading.

The company has also launched a one year Diploma on Intensive Jewellery Designing in Karachi, they added.

PGJDC has been regularly participating in different international Gems and Jewellery Exhibition held in various parts of world including Bangkok, Hong Kong, Dubai, USA and Germany.

The company has also organized 21 Gems Bazaars across the country including a Mega Gem Bazaar in Islamabad in January this year.

In future the PGJDC has a plan to establish Mobile Training Centres, Diamond Cutting and Faceting Set-Up in the country, Mega Gems Bazaars to attract international buyers and introduction of Assaying and Hallmarking in the country to assure Best Quality Exports of the sector to build consumer confidence, the sources concluded.

Source: http://www.aaj.tv/

Sunday, May 1, 2011

Special Investment Package for Gems and Jewellery Sector

LAHORE April 24, 2011: UNIDO Investment Promotion Unit (IPU) has developed a special investment package for Gems and Jewelry Sector of Pakistan. It was disclosed at a seminar organized by IPU today at SMEDA head office with Mr. Shahid Rashid, Chief Executive Officer of SMEDA in chair.

During the seminar, prospect of foreign investment in Pakistan Gems & Jewelery Sector was discussed. Stakeholders from Jewelry Designing, Manufacturing, Retailing, Gems & Jewelry Development Company, Gold Art Promotion Council and related academia participated in the seminar. Various future initiatives were identified by the stakeholders. IPU presented its services for facilitating cooperation between Pakistani and Italian G&J Companies and vis-a-vis assisting local companies in access to the Italian Credit Line of Euro 7.75 million Euros.

An agreement was signed between Government of Pakistan and Government of Italy for availability of soft credit line of Euro 7.75 million for Pakistani SMEs. SMEDA-UNIDO Investment Promotion Unit (IPU) has been established at SMEDA Head Office, Lahore to facilitate implementation of credit line. Additional components of the IPU are to facilitate Pakistani SMEs from selected sectors in Italian market through participation at relevant fairs & exhibitions and to get industry exposure.

IPU proposed to facilitate participation of delegation of Pakistani G&J Companies in Vicenza Fair, Italy January 2011. Vicenza Fair is regarded as most popular show for G&J traders and machinery suppliers. IPU also offered to prepare a catalogue, comprising of sector overview, potential for Italian investors in G&J Sector and profiles of Prominent Pakistani Companies.

Source: http://www.nation.com.pk

Training Courses for Gems and Jewelery Sector

LAHORE March 9, 2011: Pakistan Gems and Jewellery Development Company (PGJDC) has organized two training courses in Jewellery Pattern Making in Wax and Gemstone Identification and Grading at its Gems & Jewellery Training and Manufacturing Centre (GJTMC) in Lahore.

Both the courses started today would end on 20th March 2010. 12 participants from the various fields of gems and jewellery sector of Pakistan have been enrolled for Jewellery Pattern Making in Wax Training Course while 15 participants from the Gems & Jewellery Industry of Pakistan will be trained in Gemstone Identification and Grading Training Course.

Jewelery Pattern Making in Wax is one of the most useful techniques of jewellery manufacturing. In this course the participants will be explained about making of jewellery in wax through various methods and techniques. Jewellery Pattern Making in Wax allows creation of jewellery prototypes which are either difficult or impossible to be manufactured directly from metal.

Gemstone Identification and Grading Course help gemstone dealers in evaluating precious and semi-precious gemstones. The availability of Gemstone Identification Lab will help the participants to gain firsthand knowledge regarding the latest equipment. The participants will also be exposed to latest technology including modern equipments installed at the GJTMC in order to provide hands on experience to the participants.

Pakistan Gems and Jewelry Development Company (PGJDC) is the culmination of efforts put in by the Ministry of Industries, Production and Special Initiatives, Government of Pakistan and the stake holders of Gems and Jewelry Sector in Pakistan. PGJDC is a public-private partnership to develop the value chain of gems and jewelry sector from mine to market. The company aims to enhance exports through facilitation, technology up-gradation, skills development and marketing and branding.

Source: http://www.nation.com.pk

PGJDC Holds 12th Gem Bazaar in Peshawar

PESHAWAR February 8, 2011: Pakistan Gems and Jewellery Development Company (PGJDC) organised yet another glittering Gem Bazaar in Peshawar recently, says a press release.

The two-day exhibition was inaugurated by Atif Rasheed, Chairman All Pakistan Commercial Exporters Association (APCEA).

Speaking on the occasion, he lauded the efforts of the PGJDC and praised the exhibitors of Gem Bazar for putting up a great show. He said that Gem Bazaars such as this one are playing a vital supportive role in promotion of gems and jewellery industry.

This industry has great future and it can bring large foreign currency in Pakistan, he said, but due to the present unprecedented wave of terrorism in the country, especially in Peshawar, the gem export business is very adversely affected.

Government of Pakistan is willing to take steps to increase exports of gemstones in billions of dollars. Peshawar has showcased several such exhibitions in the past as well, thus it attracts a lot of traders and visitors who are keen on doing business with local producers and also buying gems for their own collections.

Gemstone exhibitors from all over the country were invited to display their wares at the bazaar. The exhibition area was divided into different sections according to geographical location.

33 stalls were given to local exhibitors of Peshawar, 11 stalls for exhibitors of Swat, 06 stalls for exhibitors of Gilgit, 02 stalls for exhibitors of Quetta, 01 stall for exhibitors of Karachi and 18 stalls were reserved for Gem Exchange. Taking advantage of the unique platform provided to them by PGJDC, many traders and exhibitors voiced their concerns over issues such mining gems etc. to officials present on the occasion. One of the major issues faced by most producers was the un-availability of modern machinery for mining and exploration.

PGJDC, which has been established under the Ministry of Industries and Production, Government of Pakistan, however over the last three years has been committed to the development of the Gems & Jewellery Industry of Pakistan from mine to market in the areas of skill development, technology up-gradation and marketing and branding. The idea of organizing Gem Bazaars in different cities including Peshawar is to enhance value chain productivity and provide a stable platform for the buyers and sellers of the gemstones and mineral specimens under one roof.

Source: http://www.nation.com.pk

First Ever Gem Bazaar in Islamabad

ISLAMABAD, January 6, 2011: Pakistan Gems and Jewellery Development Company (PGJDC) will hold a Gem Bazaar in Islamabad Hotel from January 6 to January 7th. Federal Minister for Industries and Production Mir Hazar Khan Bijrani will be inaugurating the event.

According to a Press release, the Gem Bazaar will be the 19th event and very first in Islamabad and is exclusively focused on Gem Stone Industry. The Gem Bazaar will serve as an exclusive platform for buyers, sellers, collectors and traders from different parts of the country to participate in this special event and have a chance to see, touch and buy precious gems and jewelery from around the world.

The Gem Bazar will present an extensive range of beautiful gemstones, stone studded jewellery and mineral specimens. Over hundred exhibitors are expected to attend this event from across Pakistan to showcase their latest products.

Previously, Bazaars proved to be a massive success both in terms of establishing and strengthening linkages between all the stakeholders of the value chain of gemstone industry and in providing a lucrative platform equipped with technologically advanced facilities to ensure competitiveness and transparency in the business deals.

Source: http://www.nation.com.pk

Saturday, April 30, 2011

Gem Bazaar Creates Long Term Business Links

KARACHI, March 8, 2011: Pakistan Gems and Jewellery Development Company (PGJDC) organized yet another glittering Gem Bazaar in Quetta on 5th and 6th March at its Gem Exchange in Quetta. This was the 7th Gem Bazar which was inaugurated by Ms. Fahmida Kousar Jamali President of Women Chamber Balochistan.

There were more than 40 exhibitors who participated in the Gem Bazaar. Five exhibitors participated from Peshawar. The response was enormous especially females and families who were keenly interested in the variety of the display. The exhibitors developed a phenomenal business in the Gem Bazaar and created long term business links with the buyers and also explored potential for exports.

Gem Bazaars in Quetta provide an excellent platform to the buyers and sellers of Balochistan and from other parts of the country to gather under a single roof and engage in trade. This sort of an opportunity is what PGJDC has been providing to the gems and jewellery industry as part of its endeavour to develop the gemstone sector and increase foreign exchange through exports.

Source: http://www.dailynews.net.pk

Sunday, April 17, 2011

UNIDO To Assist Gems and Jewellery Sector in Pakistan

ISLAMABAD, April 9, 2011: Representative of United Nations Industrial Development Organisation (UNIDO) Shadia Bakhait said on Saturday that women could help reduce poverty by utilising their abilities in different fields. Woman has an important role in any society and without their contribution no nation can strengthen its economy but there is a need to give them proper guidance, she said while addressing the inaugural ceremony of the Islamabad Expo, 2011.


She said that the UNIDO was committed to help Pakistan’s industrial sector, especially gems and jewelery and stone development.


Capital Development Authority (CDA) chairman Imtiaz Inayat Elahi said that such type of programmes were vital for educating the people to improve their capacity in different sectors and earn foreign exchange.


Islamabad Women Chamber of Commerce and Industry (IWCCI) president Samina Fazil said that 52 per cent of the country’s population consisted of women, which unfortunately were not contributing their proper share in the national economy.


Source: http://www.dawn.com

Friday, April 15, 2011

Types of Gems and Jewelery





In Pakistan almost all varieties are available regarding gems. Here is the list of popular gemstones.


* Ruby - Rubies range in color from light red to deep red. The biggest deposits of Rubies are in in Hunza Valley of the northern Kashmir, once known as the Gilgit Agency. The Hunza ruby is a deep "blood" red. Besides the nation of Burma, Hunza is the only region to have ever produced this type of ruby.

* Emerald - Like aquamarine, the emerald belongs to the beryl group of gems. Emeralds are geologically rare, but fine specimens are located in Swat, Pakistan. Pakistani emeralds are medium to deep green in color.

* Tourmaline - Tourmaline comes in a variety of colors including golden yellow, lime green and golden brown. It is found in pencil-shaped crystals. In Pakistan it occurs in Chitral, Swat, Dir, Gilgit and Azad Jammu Kashmir.

* Garnet - Garnets are used extensively in jewelry. Garnet is the name given to a family of minerals with simila
r structures. Not all are of gem quality. In Pakistan, the blood red pyrope as well as the purple almadine and the green-colored grossularite occur in the Kalat, Quetta, Dir and Swat areas. Other types include rhodolite, demantoid, spessartite and hessonite.

* Peridot - The peridot is lime green in color, with a hint of gold. It is the August birthstone. Popular in ancient Egyptian and Roman times, the peridot's popularity skyrocket in the 1990s after rich deposits were found in the Kashmir region of Pakistan.

* Aquamarine - The aquamarine gem belongs to the beryl mineral group and has a hexagonal crystalline structure. In Pakistan, it is found in Chitral, Kaghan, the Shigar valley of Baltistan and the Neelam Valley of Azad Kashmir. Aquamarine is transparent and ranges in color from sky blue to sea green.

* Topaz

* Spinel
* Pargasite

*
Diopside
* Moonstone
* Serpentine Jade
* Epidote
* Pink Beryl (morganite)
* Purple Beryl
* Sphene

* Zoisite
* Lapis Lazuli

* Turquoise
* Kunzite
* Quartz
* Amethyst

* Sapphire

Gemstones in Pakistan

This blog is dedicated to that class of people who loves to know about gems, jewellery, gemstones in Pakistan and where it could be found in Pakistan. Types of gemstones and how one can identify these gems. Most people are always eager to know broad information on gemstones.