NEELUM VALLEY (Kashmir English): Neelum Valley in Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) is not only famous for its breathtaking natural beauty, dense forests, snow-covered mountains, and crystal-clear streams but also holds within its mountains a lesser-known yet invaluable treasure: minerals. Among these, the most precious and globally recognised gem is the Rubies of Neelum, known in Urdu as Yaqoot-e-Surkh.
The global community values rubies because they emerge from the corundum mineral family through its intense red color which comes from iron and chromium particles. This color belongs to both culture and historical periods because it continues to symbolize royal dignity, passion, strength and love.
The main ruby-bearing zones situated in Neelum Valley exist in Chitta Katha, Nangi Mali, Chhitar Kal, Sharda, Dudhnial and Quli sector. The ruby mining areas of Chitta Katha and Nangi Mali stand out for creating superior quality rubies. The stones extracted from these mines are considered exceptional in terms of colour, clarity, and hardness.
Mining in these regions is carried out entirely under the supervision and regulation of the government. Local individuals are not permitted to extract rubies without official permission, and strict laws have been put in place to prevent illegal mining and ensure the responsible use of these precious resources.
At present, ruby mining operates at a minimal level, but local economic support through the ruby sector presents promising future possibilities. Proper government oversight and development initiatives will transform ruby reserves into employment generators for local youth while advancing the regional economy.
Rubies of Neelum:
Colour: Ranges from deep red to light pink.
Hardness: 9 on the Mohs scale. It is considered second only to diamond.
Spiritual use: Believed by many to be associated with spiritual strength and good fortune.
By implementing contemporary mining procedures through public-private-community global partnerships the area of Neelum Valley can thrive in both tourism development and gemstone industrial production. The exceptional beauty and substantial economic potential of Ruby reserves permit the development of Neelum Valley into an economic prosperity center given responsible management of these resources.
