Govt to boost gems sector with reforms, industry status

The Pri­me Minister’s Steering Committee for Gemstones approved a series of refo­rms on Tuesday to revitalise the sector, with a key decision to bring the industry under the Ministry of Industries. The meeting, chaired by Minister for Privatisation Abdul Aleem Khan, inclu­ded stakeholders such as federal ministers, secretaries, senior officials and private sector representatives. They discussed in detail the proposed reforms for the gemstone industry. According to the sub-committee’s recommendations, the sector will be giv­en formal industry status once it is officially linked to the Ministry of Industries. “We are moving forward with the cooperation and inte­grated efforts of both the government and the pri­v­ate sector to promote the gemstone industry,” Mr Khan said during the meeting.