Pakistans High Commissioner HE Qasim Qureshi with the Gilgit Baltistan Delegation

A high powered delegation of Pakistan’s Gilgit – Baltistan Legislative Assembly members and officials led by Speaker Mr Wazir Baig, recently visited Sri Lanka on an exposure visit to study the Gems and Jewellery sector policy framework.

The visit was aimed to help Gilgit – Baltistan to devise policies to support efforts to improve the livelihoods of small-scale gemstone miners in the area. It will further improve the capacities to replicate the success stories of best practices adopted by Sri Lanka in gemstone mining, cutting and polishing.

The visit was arranged by Government of Gilgit-Baltistan in collaboration with the Agha Khan Rural Support Programme, Pakistan to study the Gems and Jewellery related policy framework as a “best practice” under the European Commission funded Gems and Jewellery value chain development initiative.

Pakistans High Commissioner Maj Gen (R) Qasim Qureshi with Speaker Gilgit Baltistan Wazir

Other members of the delegation included Mr. Jamil Ahmed, Deputy Speaker, GB Legislative Assembly, Muhammad Naseer Khan, Minister for Mines and Minerals, Chief Secretary, Government of Gilgit-Baltistan, Muhammad Younus Dagha, Mr. Mutabiat Shah, Member, GB Legislative Assembly, as well as officials and representatives of Rupani Foundation and AKRSP.

The delegation also called on High Commission of Pakistan in Sri Lanka Maj. Gen. (R) Qasim Qureshi, on April 7th 2014 at the High Commission of Pakistan in Colombo.

The High Commissioner briefed the delegation about the immense potential for collaboration between Pakistan and Sri Lanka in Gems and Jewellery Sector.  He urged the delegation to utilize this potential for greater investment and joint ventures between the two countries for expanded collaboration.