Peshawar Gem Show 1999

The following is a recounting of the 1999 Peshawar Gem Show. 

Background of the Gem Trade in Pakistan

 Pakistan is situated in Southeast Asia, and is blessed with lot of minerals and gemstones . Culturally Pakistan has very close links with bordering country Afghanistan . Infect over 95 percent of Afghanistan gemstones are traded through Pakistan . City of Peshawar ,  capital of North West Frontier Province ,  is main center of Gemstone trade of the country . Gemstones Like Emerald , Rubies , Sapphires , Tourmalines , Aquamarines , Diopside , several types of Garnet , Lapis Lazurite , Lazuli , Quartz etc. are being mined in Northern Pakistan and Afghanistan and then exported all over the world through this city . Unfortunately due to some political instability and lack of cultural understanding , this region has been one of the most difficult one to do trade in  . Lack of understanding about market trends and demand among dealers and miners here have made the situation more difficult . To make dealers and miners aware of market trends and better understanding of international market ,  Pakistan export promotion Bureau is conducting a g gemstone show for last five years in collaboration with All Pakistan Commercial Exporters of Precious and Semi Precious Gemstones and Mineral Association . It provides a platform where dealers and international buyers can understand the mutual trade in the field . Though show has lot of rome to improve in material offering etc. . 

Let me take you to the show now . It was 6 Th. Annual show . My father ( Mr. Shahjehan Khan Qazi ) has been asked several times in last several  years to accept an office in the association but since he is already very busy in national politics and the business so he usually declines . This year I literally forced him to accept the offer so as to help doing some changes in the Gemstone industry  and thus in September he was elected unopposed as the central executive member of All Pakistan Exporters Association . Also he was the Chairman for this Only  show of gemstones in Pakistan . The show started with  inauguration ceremony . This year federal minister of Pakistan for trades was the chief guest . Hundreds of buyers dealers and miners were present in the ceremony held at Pearl Continental Peshawar . Speeches were delivered by the chairman , Mr. Shahjehan Khan Qazi and the Federal Minister of trades of Pakistan and other office bearers  . The chairman emphasized on the government to give special attention to this industry in Pakistan as it has potential to play a major role in world market . The chairman also asked the government to provide special facilities to international buyers interested in buying direct .  The need for a gemmological testing Laboratory in Peshawar and improved cutting facilities was also emphasized . On behalf of Pakistan Government , The Federal Minister later in his speech announced 50 million rupees grant for the Gem testing laboratory in Peshawar and 20 million rupees grant for better cutting facilities . 

Refreshments were served to all the participant of the ceremony and formal inauguration took place .
Rough / uncut , specimen , and jewelry was displayed in the show by several dealers . The rough was marked very high and people knowing the art of bargaining did get some nice deals . Some Peridot lots were more expensive than average emerald lots . One  very Huge Tourmaline cluster Specimen was attracting lot of collectors and dealers . I have taken the picture below and I wish I was good photo taker so as to do justice with the specimen . That specimen was later sold on handsome amount . Emeralds from different mines of Swat was displayed along with some Afghan emeralds by few dealers . As per buyers mostly local dealers were dominating the show . Though some Indians , chinese , europeans and Serilankan were also there to buy . In addition to buy from the show , international buyers do get a chance to make purchases off the show from various miners and dealers who have come to visit and are not displaying formally . Interesting feature of the show was the presence of Indian High commissioner ( Ambassador ) at the show as one of the guest . Despite the political tension between the two countries , presence of Indian Ambassador and Indian buyers showed that business men has no boundaries or frontiers  . Following are some of the pictures of the ceremony , show and some exquisite specimen displayed in the show by various dealers . I hope to do better in the making the report about show next year . This year I was bit busy and got only few hours to wonder in the show . For year 2000 show dates are between 1st to 3 rd October . Now enjoy the pictures .

	Mr. Shahjehan Khan Qazi , Chairman of the show , delivering speech at the inauguration ceremony .
	View of exporters and other participants of the ceremony .
	Federal Minister of trade for Pakistan Delivering a speech at the inauguration ceremony .
	From Left  : Mr. Shahjehan Khan Qazi  , Indian High Commissioner  ( Ambassador of India to pakistan) , Mr. MazhrulHaq
	Anther view of the show .
	Some Serilankan and Indian buyers busy in making purchases .Lot of local folks and Afghani dealers are also present in the show .
	Beautiful Aquamarine Specimen .   Picture of this specimen was printed on the poster of the show also .  This beautiful specimen is from Gilgit Pakistan .
	HUGE Quartz crystal displayed by some dealer in the show . It was mostly  cuttable weighing over 30 lb. and did make me stop and look at it for long time as its beauty was astonishing .
	My very favorite specimen of the show . It is a huge cluster plate of bi -color Tourmaline from Afghanistan with some smoky quartz . Length of plate was 12 inches with numerous gemmy tourmaline terminated crystals . This cluster plate was really very beautiful and exquisite . You can look at this amazing piece of nature for hours without getting bored . This plate got sold at the end of show on handsome money as I was told .