The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government is all set to establish up a gemstone laboratory and technical training and certification center to promote the mineral sector.
On Monday, the provincial government approved the setting up of a gemstone lab in Peshawar. The respective decision was taken in the meeting of the Mineral Investment Facilitation Authority (MIFA) that was chaired by Chief Minister Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Mahmood Khan.
The meeting conferred approval in principle to have a joint venture with the private sector companies for establishing the Gemstone Laboratory, Technical Trainings and Certification Centre.
It aims to have technical and professional capabilities for processing the raw form of gemstones and to develop them into refined branded product to be introduced in international markets.
The gemstone center-cum-laboratory would be established at the existing building of Mineral Testing Laboratory, Hayatabad, and Peshawar.
Read more: Government planning to set up Gemstone City in Islamabad
After the establishment, the center would provide international level training for processing the gemstones as well as internationally recognized certification facility for gemstones products.
The private companies will be involved by the mineral department for mutual scheme will provide machinery and trained human resource for the centre.
The meeting was attended by KP Minister Akbar Ayub, Special Assistant to CM for Mines & Minerals Arif Ahmad Zai, administrative secretaries of concerned departments, Vice Chairman Board of Investment & Trade and other concerned authorities.
Administrative secretaries of mineral, forest, law and tourism departments would be the members of the committee.
The Chief Minister while speaking on the occasion said that, “It was one of the top most priority areas of the incumbent government to protect the forest and increase the forest cover to the maximum level.”
However he also underlined the need of utilizing the mineral resources of the province without causing any harm to forest.
He also directed the quarters concerned to adopt a realistic and balanced approach for the security of forest areas and exploration of mineral resources.
