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CCP Urges Overhaul of Pakistan’s Opaque Gold Trade Before Reko Diq Comes Online

The watchdog says looming Reko Diq output makes rapid market clean-up urgent.

Overview

  • The assessment finds over 90% of gold trading is informal, with estimated annual consumption of 60–90 tonnes versus only USD 17 million in FY2024 recorded imports.
  • Pakistan has negligible refining and weak hallmarking, which the report links to smuggling, under‑invoicing and widespread purity-related consumer fraud.
  • No unified pricing mechanism exists, as local associations set daily rates and influential groups distort prices and supply.
  • The CCP proposes a Gold Bank, a Pakistan Gold & Gemstone Authority, mandatory assaying and hallmarking, and transaction traceability integrated with the FBR’s track‑and‑trace system, drawing on Türkiye’s gold‑banking model.
  • Reko Diq is projected to yield roughly USD 74 billion in gold over 37 years, and the CCP urges that the reform package be in place before commercial production.