Govt moves to formalize gold, gemstone exports

July 30,2025(MLN): Government is considering policy measures to promote legal and value-added exports of gold and gemstones, informed by Mr. Haroon Akhtar Khan, Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Industries and Production.

He directed that an immediate meeting be held with key stakeholders from the gems and jewellery sector to chart a strategic way forward.

Mr. Khan made this decision during a meeting with Mr. Barneby Plowright, a leading French investor and manufacturer in the global gem and jewellery industry.

The two discussed pressing challenges in Pakistan’s export sector, particularly issues related to export documentation, value addition, and access to international markets.

Despite possessing some of the world’s highest-quality gemstone reserves, Pakistan’s formal exports remain alarmingly low, Mr. Khan noted.

He emphasized that nearly $2 billion worth of gold is currently exported through undocumented channels each year, resulting in major revenue losses for the national exchequer and discouraging legitimate foreign investment.

“The illegal trade in gems and jewellery is bleeding our economy,” he said, stressing the urgent need for transparency and robust regulation in the sector.

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