In a recent session of the Prime Minister’s Committee on Gemstone Policy in Pakistan, officials raised serious concerns that nearly 50% of the country’s gemstone output is lost because of outdated mining practices.
The losses stem from non-scientific techniques — such as rudimentary blasting and drilling — which cause 30-40% of precious stones to be wasted right at the extraction stage.
Another major challenge: most gemstones end up being exported in rough form with little to no value-addition, drastically limiting the earning potential of Pakistan’s gemstone industry.
Officials stressed that modern mining technologies and better downstream processing could unlock the sector’s potential — estimated at around US $2 billion in export value for Pakistan.