PM Furious Over Delays in Gemstone Projects

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has expressed frustration over the delays in Pakistan's gemstone sector pilot project and stalled development initiatives, emphasizing the need for swift action. During a meeting, Sharif directed officials to establish a comprehensive ecosystem covering gemstone mining, cutting, polishing, and value addition, with a focus on addressing poor mining practices and smuggling that cost Pakistan billions annually.

Officials reported progress in the pilot project, including land transfers for a center of excellence in Skardu and the identification of areas for further exploration, with a budget of Rs. 1 billion allocated for the sector in the current fiscal year.

Brief written by urgent.news from ProPakistani's own syndicated text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.