Gems include precious or semi precious stones, rough, uncut or cut and polished or unpolished stones, pearls, diamonds and corals. Gold Jewellery includes jewellery made of gold and also the gold jewellery embedded or studded with precious or semi precious stones. The country’s Northern Areas, in particular, are rich in world’s most sought after saleable gem-stones; both precious and semiprecious including emeralds, topaz, lapis, peridot, sapphire, kunzite, ruby and aquamarine. Skilled and semi skilled labour is available at relatively low rates. More than 60% of the gems deposits are wasted during the mining. These wastages are due to the non awareness and use of traditional mining techniques in which dynamite blasts are used. Due to these blasts many human lives are lost and some are disabled. Most importantly mine workers and owners do not know about the marketing of their raw materials. All direct stakeholders lack linkages with the public, private sectors and academia.

FATA, rich in mineral resources, has not been fully explored. The training will be conducted in Mohmand Agency under FATA which is rich in gemstones mines potential. The area could have been developed to a great extent to exploit the natural treasures found there. Rich in 19 different metals, non-metallic minerals and gemstones, the tribal belt offers opportunities to explore copper, marble, coal, dolomite, quartz, silica sand, soapstone, emerald, limestone, magnesite, graphite, manganese and gypsum. Large deposits of gemstones like Emerald, kunzite, sapphire, and peridot have been found in Mohmand Agency. The only requirement is the awareness and expertise to help the local miners in using better techniques and technology of mine exploration.

Dr Sadiq Akbar, Assistant Professor in University of Engineering & Technology, Mining Department, Peshawar is the resource person for conducting the said training program.