ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Imran Khan has said that the government is formulating a comprehensive strategy to take full advantage of the country’s mineral resources.
He expressed these views while presiding over a high-level meeting on mineral development program on Monday. The meeting was attended by Federal Ministers Hamad Azhar, Asad Umar and senior federal and provincial officials. The meeting was briefed on the points of the Mineral Development Program and the proposed measures.
Â
The meeting was informed that the program is being formulated keeping in view the problems faced by the sector as well as promotion of legal and administrative framework and investment opportunities as well as environmental protection. The meeting was also given a detailed briefing on the country’s mineral deposits.
Â
The meeting was informed that the country has reserves of rock salt, limestone, gypsum, porcelain, silica sand and many other industrial minerals, as well as metal reserves of chromite, copper, gold, silver, iron, lead and zinc. are present. The meeting was also informed about the presence of vast reserves of marble, granite and sandstone.
Â
The meeting was informed that deposits of precious stones and coal such as topaz, emerald, ruby, tourmaline (turmeric) and aquamarine (blue crystal) are also abundant. The strategy for investing in iron ore deposits at Chiniot and Kala Bagh is in its final stages.
The meeting was apprised of the potential reserves in Gilgit-Baltistan besides the four provinces, while measures to promote research for the development of the sector would also be included in the program.
Â
Instructing the Prime Minister to finalize the program soon, the Prime Minister said that
There was ample potential for investment in the mineral sector, Pakistan was rich in natural resources and harnessing them was one of the top priorities of the government.
