Gems and Jewellery Center

The existing Gems & Jewelry Center of Excellence (GJCoE), University of Engineering & Technology (UET), Peshawar is an outcome of Gemstones Development Centre (GDC) approved for its implementation by the Higher Education Commission of Pakistan (HEC), Islamabad. In April 2010 the Gemstone Development Centre was upgraded to the Gems & Jewellery Centre of Excellence (GJCoE).

Gems and Jewellery Centre of Excellence, University of Engineering & Technology, Peshawar is the first fully Government Organization in Pakistan providing Diplomas in the field of gemmology and lapidary.

Mission

To contribute to Gems & Jewellery industry by upholding the highest standards of integrity and academic excellence through education, research, and innovation.

Objectives of GJCoE

1. The development of expertise in gemstones.
2. Labor development for gemstones industry of the country.
3. Teaching and training of students in gemmology & lapidary.
4. The development of sophisticated /international standard-level laboratories for identification/certification of gemstones according to international standards.
5. The development of lapidary facilities for training in modern cutting & faceting according to the latest fashion prevailing in the Gemstones market.

Courses offered by GJCoE

1. Diploma in Gemology
   1. Duration 05 months
   2. The minimum education required is intermediate (FA or F. Sc)
   3. No age limits
2. Diploma in Lapidary
3. Duration 05 months
4. The minimum education required is matriculation
5. No age limits

What is gemology?

• Gemology is the science of dealing with natural and artificial gemstone materials.
• Gemstones are full of hidden surprises and gemology is the key to unlock many of them.
• A gemologist may identify and classify gemstones as natural, synthetic, or treated.

What is lapidary?

• Lapidary is an art of value addition to the rough gemstones by cutting, faceting, and polishing to enlighten its natural inherited beauty as per prevailing trend and fashion.
• A fine cut and polishing of a raw gemstone would enhance its value by many times.

Facilities at GJCOE

1. Well-furnished gemology classrooms, fully equipped with all teaching & testing facilities and more than two thousand (2000) gemstone specimens.
2. Well-established teaching & workshop facilities of a lapidary for skill development.
3.  Library room with thousands of books, journals& magazines related to gemstones.
4. Well, facilitated computer room
5. Curriculum/syllabus and course for a 05-month diploma in gemmology and a 05-month diploma in lapidary as recommended by the academic council of UET, Peshawar.
6. So far more than 900 numbers of students in gemology, and 350 numbers of students in lapidary have completed their five-month diplomas by the end of January 2025.

 Faculty & Staff

1. Prof. Dr. Nisar Mohammad

Director

1. Dr. Habib Ur Rehman-Ph.D. (China)

Lecturer

Laboratory Staff

1. Mr. Amjad Ali M.Sc. (Pak)

Senior Gemologist

2. Shahid Khan

Laboratory Attendant

Pakistan Gems Resources

Pakistan has emerged as the fifth largest country for the occurrence of gemstones on the world map. The north-west of Pakistan, including the province of Khyber Pukhtunkhwa (KPK), Federally Administered Tribal Area (FATA), recently merged with KPK, and northern areas (N.As) are endowed with abundant resources of gemstones and rare minerals not being exploited due to remote locations & lack of practical & technical know-how of the local people.  The important gemstones at KPK are emerald at Mingora, Charbagh & Gujar Kili in district Swat, Ruby & Sapphire at Balakot & Bata Kundi in district Mansehra, pink topaz at Katlang & Shamozai in district Mardan, tourmaline, aquamarine, and Feldspar in district Chitral, Peridot at Sapat in Hazara Kohistan, Garnet, Epidote & Actinolite at Jambil & several other places in district Swat, and Axinite in Warsak hills near Peshawar in KPK.

The gemstone sector in FATA (recently merged with KPK) is characterized by its largely untapped potential in addition to its known emerald occurrences in Mohmand & Bajaur Agencies, garnet at Targhao-Bajaur Agency, epidote & idocrase near Kot, Pranghar & Bucha in Mohmand Agency, Quartz & Axintie in Parachinar area of Kurram Agency, sphene & rare earth minerals at Warsak hills & Zagi mountain at Mullaghori area of District Khyber.

Gemstones of Northern Areas (N.As) include Ruby, Sapphire, Spinel & Pargasite at Hunza valley, emerald, topaz, aquamarine, tourmaline, epidote, moonstone, quartz, apatite & hambergite in districts Baltistan, Gilgit & Nagar, zircon & actinolite in Chilas and at Bunji in district Gilgit.

Most of the above-mentioned gemstone bearing areas are interlinked with Peshawar. The gemstones in rough & specimen form are brought to Peshawar for sale & cutting in Gemstone’s market situated at Namak Mandi, Peshawar. Peshawar, being a provincial headquarters of KPK and inter-linked with the gemstones bearing areas, it is now one of the biggest rough gemstone markets for trading gemstones from Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Afghanistan, Iran, and China.

Presently, most of the extracted gemstones are either sold to the gem dealers in rough & uncut form, or gemstone specimens embedded in a matrix in natural form are sold to show-rooms, museums, and for educational–aid material or research purposes. The most appropriate way of getting the proper price is for cut & polished stones after value addition. Due to the lack of modern cutting/polishing & faceting facilities, lack of gemstone identification & certification facilities, lack of evaluation facilities, inadequate consulting services, inconsistent & non-sustainable production, inadequate export arrangements, and lack of training & skill development facilities are all adversely affecting the development of gemstone industry in the country, particularly in KPK province.