Pakistan’s federal government has launched a five-year plan to expand gemstone exports and bring the sector under stronger regulatory oversight.

The plan aims to formalise the gemstone trade by registering 610 exporters and establishing a central coordinating authority with representation from both federal and provincial governments. The authority will oversee registration, traceability, and market access to improve transparency and reduce inefficiencies in the sector.

To support implementation, a National Gemstone Policy Office will be set up to monitor progress, ensure the return of unsold goods from international exhibitions, and facilitate e-payment gateways to simplify transactions for exporters. Six dedicated working groups have also been formed to address challenges in banking access, financial systems, mining and processing innovation, and business registration.

Officials estimate that improved registration and traceability could generate more than $60 million in value addition by cutting wastage and improving export pricing. Pakistan is believed to possess gemstones worth over $45 billion, including around 200 million carats of ruby and 70 million carats of emerald. However, outdated mining and processing methods currently result in wastage of up to 70 percent, limiting the sector’s export potential.

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The government says the five-year plan is designed to modernise the entire gemstone value chain—from extraction and processing to certification and export—while improving compliance with international standards and strengthening Pakistan’s credibility in global gemstone markets.