Empowering Gemstone Artisans Across Borders

During a 2020 visit to areas near her ancestral home in Pakistan, Ms. Nida Jamal discovered rich gemstone reserves—and an urgent need among the local women artisans. Skilled in gem cutting and jewelry making yet poorly compensated, these women lacked market access and economic independence. Inspired, she founded ArHaz Jewels in 2021—a sustainable gem harvesting and jewelry brand whose name means “self‑reliant” in Urdu.

ArHaz now employs hundreds of artisans, primarily women, from the Pakistan–Afghanistan border region, bringing their handcrafted creations to customers in the United States. From her base in Washington, DC, Jamal oversees sourcing, design, and sales while ensuring the artisans earn a living wage that is four times the local standard. Her mission? To transform impoverished craftsmanship into dignified economic opportunity.

Ms. Jamal, a biochemistry graduate of St. John’s College, had planned to pursue dental school before family responsibilities and her mother’s passing changed her trajectory. She devoted years to philanthropic work—through the Embassy of Pakistan in Washington and NGOs providing education and healthcare in Pakistan—before her Himalayan journey reshaped her vision.

Venturing into tribal mining areas, Jamal spent time learning gemstone harvesting—traditionally a male occupation. She gained the trust of local community leaders and tribal families and recruited women who sought economic independence. These artisans, working from home, applied their jewelry‑making skills to produce gemstone pieces that now carry both cultural authenticity and global appeal.

ArHaz designs blend traditional Pakistani motifs with contemporary aesthetics, produced with ethical sourcing aligned with the UN Sustainable Development Goals. A recent exhibition in Washington, DC generated over $20,000 in sales, and the brand continues to expand each year. In 2023, Jamal was recognized by Vital Voices Global Partnership—a nonprofit founded by Hillary Rodham Clinton—as one of 50 “global visionaries,” leading to a collaboration with The Estée Lauder Companies to further scale ArHaz internationally.

Beyond higher incomes, the women artisans gain confidence, autonomy, and professional recognition. Jamal pays them fairly and connects them with global markets—supporting not just financial uplift, but also social and personal empowerment in areas marked by gender disparity and low workforce participation.

Reflecting on her journey, Jamal says her time at St. John’s and living in diverse New York City circles made her bold enough to travel to remote trekked sites where cell service is rare. That exposure helped shape her confidence in forging cross‑cultural connections and pioneering social impact entrepreneurship.

Looking ahead, Jamal hopes to take ArHaz to other developing nations where women face similar economic barriers—Uganda being the next potential destination. But for now, she is building ArHaz’s capacity step by step, country by country.

ArHaz Jewels exemplifies how socially conscious leadership, rooted in ethical sourcing and cultural collaboration, can uplift marginalized communities. Through this venture, women who once labored in obscurity now earn fair pay, build self‑reliant livelihoods, and reclaim their craftsmanship as a pathway to freedom.