KP gems, jewellery traders discuss formalising informal trade

PESHAWAR – The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Gems and Jewellery Association (KPGJA) and its advisory council are working together to turn the informal trade into a formalized industry, according to Dr Muhammad Irshad, the head of the council. He pledged full support for the association’s efforts to formalize the gems trade, promote value addition, and resolve business hurdles during a meeting with KPGJA leaders.

The KPGJA president, Muhammad Salman Niazi, spoke about a delegation visiting Germany to participate in an international trade exhibition. Three association members have already arrived in Germany to prepare for the delegation’s trip. Iqbal Sarwar, the director of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Board of Investment and Trade (KP-BOIT), and Akhtar, a KP-BOIT manager, were also present at the meeting.

Officials discussed the challenges faced by the province’s gems and jewellery sectors, with a focus on integrating the informal trade into the formal economy to boost foreign exchange earnings and boost exports. Dr Irshad stated that the KP-BOIT would do everything in its power to help businesses, promote value addition, and eliminate trade-related obstacles to make local products more competitive in the global market.