PESHAWAR: A three-day gems and jewellery exhibition “Jashn-i-Khyber”, organised by the Gemological Association of Pakistan (GAP), started at Nishtar Hall here on Friday.

The exhibition was inaugurated by an eight-year-old girl Aneesa Akhtar, who is thalassaemia patient. According to the organisers, at least 100 stalls had been set up in the hall where people dealing in business of the precious stones had displayed the gems and jewellery besides other items.

In some of the stalls the women have displayed garments prepared with beautiful embroidery, while others are full of historical musical instruments, ornaments, etc.

The colourful gemstones, carved items and a variety of precious stones explored in parts of the northern areas like Chitral and Gilgit Baltistan and the small stones usually used in rings attracted the visitors.

A large number of citizens, including traders, visited the exhibition on the opening day.

GAP president Shakeel Wahidullah said that the purpose of the show was to highlight the soft image of the violence-hit Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Fata.

He said that the event was dedicated to those who had sacrificed their lives in the fight against terrorism, particularly the students of Army Public School. Its general secretary Abdul Malik said that the association would prepare recommendations for consideration of the provincial and federal governments so as to take collective steps for presentation of the soft image of the province.

He said that inaugurating the exhibition by a thalassaemia patient was meant to encourage the people to play their role in contributing to the welfare of children suffering from different fatal diseases.

Aneesa Akhtar also urged the people belonging to different walks of life to come forward and donate blood to the thalassaemia patients as the affected children belonging to poor families could not afford expenditures of the treatment.

Published in Dawn, October 10th , 2015

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