LAHORE: Muhammad Ahmad, the newly elected Chairman of the working Committee of the Gold Art Promotion Council-Pakistan and Lahore Division Sarafa and Jewellers Association Chairman, has said that the sky rocketing prices of gold is created a serious crisis in the country. If no measure is taken it will result in unemployment of thousands of artisans and jewellers.

This he stated at a reception arranged in honour of the joint 15-member delegation of Gold Art Promotion Council-Pakistan and Gold & Gold Craft visiting Europe. The delegation members include jewellers from all over the country. The delegation is headed by Muhammad Ahmad.

He said that the only solution to this crisis lies in increasing gems & jewellery exports and the government should pay special attention to this problem. For the immediate remedy, government will have to announce special relief for the export of gems and jewellery. It will also help in ending the monopoly of the so-called leaders of jewellers.

Mr Ahmad further said that Gold Art Promotion Council-Pakistan has started its efforts for saving this heritage from collapse. For this purpose, its delegation during its European tour will first visit Dubai gold jewellery market and then it will be touring Italy and other European cities for enhancing trade relations between Pakistan and these countries. Moreover, the delegation will visit various jewellery machinery units in Italy and hold talks with jewellers for enhancing Pakistani jewellery exports.

Earlier, elections of the Gold Art Promotion Council-Pakistan for 2008 were held in which Rana Muhammad Asghar and Syed Masood Ali were elected President and General Secretary respectively of Gold Art Promotion Council.