Pakistan, Oct. 15 -- Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif on Wednesday expressed displeasure over the slow progress of the Gemstones Pilot Project and delays in implementing measures for the sector's development, directing that a time-bound action plan be prepared on a priority basis.

"Measures for the development of the gemstones and jewellery sector are a priority, and no delays will be tolerated," the prime minister said while chairing a meeting to review progress in the gemstone sector.

He stressed the need to develop a complete ecosystem for value addition, covering gemstone mining, cutting and polishing.

The country suffers annual losses worth billions of dollars due to substandard gemstone mining practices and smuggling, the p...