Engineering Post Report
Balochistan is the largest province, area wise, of the country constituting 43 per cent of the total national landmass. The county, in general and the province in particular, is endowed by the nature with the blessing of substantial mineral wealth.
According to the experts, mineral industry can play an important role in boosting up the socio-economic set up in Balochistan as agriculture in other parts of the country but somehow due attention could not be given to the exploitation and development of mineral sector due to financial constraints, heavy risk investment and lack of infrastructure as the deposits are located in remote and far flung areas of the province.
Nature has gifted Balochistan with vast natural resources. Efforts are being made for scientific exploration and exploitation of these natural resources. Federal as well as Provincial Governments are giving prompt attention towards the development of minerals in the province.
Various national and multi-national companies are involved in exploration of minerals and have obtained areas for pre-feasibility studies/ exploration/exploitation of Gold, Copper, precious metals and associated minerals in Chagai and other districts of the province.
Nine large scale licenses and more than 1450 concessions of various minerals have so far been granted to different private/public sector small scale mining companies.
Balochistan province has large deposits of Limestone, Gypsum and Coal (raw material for cement manufacturing) and investment opportunities for installation of cement factories are available in the province. According to the latest reports, seven applications for grant of exploration and mining leases were under process in the Directorate General of Mines and Minerals office in Quetta. After completion of study reports in due course of time the licenses will be granted.
The Geological Survey of Pakistan (GSP) has also planned the mapping of 50 top sheets of the “outcrop area” of Balochiistan for identification of minerals at a cost of PRs 127. 595 million during a three years periods.
