PESHAWAR: NWFP Governor Owais Ahmed Ghani has said that vast potential existed for earning foreign exchange through exploration of precious stones on scientific lines and ensuring their value addition, which require institutionalised initiatives on fast-track basis.
Speaking at diploma awarding ceremony of the graduates of Gemology Training Course at the Governor’s House, Monday, he said: “We need to establish a centre of excellence in this sector under the aegis of the University of Engineering & Technology and develop skilled manpower.”
The six-month course, which was fourth of its nature, was meant for students from Fata and was arranged by the NWFP University of Engineering & Technology through the sponsorship of USAID. All 15 graduates from Fata were awarded diplomas on the occasion.
The governor, who is also the Chancellor of the NWFP University of Engineering & Technology, said attracting
international buyers was a sensitive matter and to attain recognition there was a dire need to establish a gems certification and evaluation laboratory in the provincial metropolitan.
Owais Ghani also lauded the USAID for sponsoring the training saying that it would go a long way towards generating job opportunities for youth and encouraging export of value-added precious stones instead of rough material.
“We need to move from practices of exporting precious stones in rough forms to an internationally recognised level of quality material,” he said.
In fact, he said, huge deposits of different kinds of minerals exist in the NWFP and Fata and we also need support and sponsorship for their development and exploitation. He appreciated the enthusiastic approach of the NWFP University of Engineering & Technology for promoting skilled manpower and assured every possible help and support in its efforts for further up-grading the educational facilities.
Vice Chancellor of the university Syed Imtiaz Hussain Gilani said the university had been promoting knowledge in the gemstones sector for quite some time and three batches of the series had already passed out.
Sheheryar Khan, director, Fata Development and Livelihood Development Project, highlighted importance of the course and said that community participation was the focal point of the programme.
Later, the governor awarded certificates to the graduates. US Consul General in Peshawar, Ms Candace Putnam, attended the ceremony the officials of Fata Secretariat and USAID besides the senior members of the faculties of the NWFP University of Engineering & Technology.
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