Islamabad, November 21, 2025 – Pakistan on Friday lifted the ban on the import and export of jewelry and precious metals, introducing new regulations with certain conditions to ensure compliance and traceability.
The Ministry of Commerce issued SRO 2198(I)/2025, rescinding the previous SRO No. 760(I)/2025 dated May 6, 2025, with immediate effect. While trade is now permitted, stringent conditions have been applied under the new rules.
Key Provisions of the New SRO
According to the amended notification, the import of precious metals and gemstones and the export of jewelry made from precious metals and gemstones will be allowed under:
1. Entrustment Scheme
2. Self-Consignment Scheme
The scheme’s title has also been updated to “Export of Precious Metals and Jewelry Order, 2013.”
Additional provisions include:
• A No Objection Certificate (NOC) from the relevant customs authorities is required in case of operational constraints or a one-time change of customs stations.
• All transactions under the Entrustment Scheme must be processed through the same bank that handled the corresponding import of precious metals.
Government Meeting Highlights Gemstone Potential
Earlier today, a meeting of the Prime Minister’s Committee on Gemstone Policy was held, chaired by Special Assistant to the PM Haroon Akhtar Khan, with attendees including Minister of State for Finance and Railways Bilal Azhar Kayani and Adviser to the PM Rana Ihsan Afzaal.
Key observations from the briefing:
• A significant portion of Pakistan’s gemstone exports remains undocumented, with formal registration planned soon.
• Nearly 50% of gemstone output is wasted due to outdated mining practices and obsolete technology.
• Around 30–40% of precious stones are lost due to non-scientific blasting and drilling.
• Many gemstones are exported in raw form without value addition, limiting export potential.
Haroon Akhtar Khan emphasized the need for modern mining technologies and comprehensive value addition to enhance production and export figures. Pakistan’s current documented gemstone exports are just USD 7 million, while the undocumented export potential is estimated at USD 2 billion.
The Committee also directed stakeholders to prepare a five-year export analysis for the gemstone sector, including nephrite exports, to better strategize growth and international competitiveness.