MINERAL RESOURCES IN PAKISTAN

MINERAL RESOURCES IN PAKISTAN

Natural Resources:

National resources are backbone for the industrial development of a country. These resources play a dominant role in accelerating in the pace of progress and prosperity. Economic development of an economy is not possible without the availability of natural resources. Natural resources are divided into minerals, forests and hydral power/energy.

Mining and Quarrying:

Pakistan has a widely geological frame work, ranging from pre-Cambrian to the present that includes a number of zones hosting several metallic minerals, industrial minerals, precious and semi-precious stones. Although many effort have been made in developing geological products, institutional, academic and Research and Development infrastructure, much remains to be done to enable this sector to take full advantage of its endowment. As a result of various efforts devoted for the development of mineral sector, resources of several minerals have been discovered over the last many decades, including world class resources of lignite coal deposits at Thar, Sindh, porphyry copper-gold deposits in Chagai, Balochistan, Iron ore deposits at Dilband, Balochistan, Lead-zinc deposits in Duddar, Balochistan, gypsum, rock salt, limestone, dolomite, china clays etc in the Indus Basic, ornamental and construction stones in the various parts of the country and about 30 different gems and precious stone deposits in northern Pakistan.

Mineral industry in Pakistan shows that over the last few decades this sector has been allocated very small amount - 0.45% to 2.46% of the total public sector expenditure since first five year plan reflecting its contribution to Gross National Product (GNP) of just around 0.5%. The mineral resources of a country are valuable means and measures of its economic and industrial growth. These are still more important for Pakistan because of its favorable geological environment and a large number of mineral resources in the country. Considering that substantial scope exists for the development uncertainties, it requires Government support and recognition of mineral sector.

The Govt. is fully committed to making the mineral sector in Pakistan one of the most profitable for the country. During the current fiscal year, mining and quarrying sector has registered a growth rate of 5.7 percent as against 4.58 percent of last year. The increased growth was propelled by strong growths recorded in magnetite-30%, dolomite-26.1%, Limestone-25.2% and chromites. To make this sector thrive more in the upcoming year the Govt. has already started various initiatives which is evident from the discovery and development of world class copper-gold deposits in Chagai, Balochistan by Australian Firms that would fetch $500 million to $600 million per year during the lives of these mines Development of Thar Coal field, one of the largest good quality lignite deposits in the world on completion, would provide additional source of energy.

Mines and Mineral Development Department:

This department was created in Sindh in 2001 in pursuance of the National Mineral Policy, 1995. The department has taken all necessary steps for further establishing its field office. The province of Sindh has large quantities of minerals. In all there are 24 minerals which are being mined at present. The province also has large quantities of coal and granite reserves. The granite area which was previously inaccessible has now been connected with Karachi by network of roads and other facilities like Rest House etc. It is also proposed that Granite Park should be established at Nagarparkar. Karunjhar Range of Mountains in Nagarparkar has huge reserves of granite and other rock types of extractable thickness which has the potential to compete the international market.

Mineral Resources of Pakistan:

1) Natural Gas:

Natural gas is used in domestic cooking, thermal power stations and steel furnaces and as a raw material for fertilizer industry and in CNG kits for transport purpose. It is used almost in every industry. It is found in Sui, Attock, Pirkoh and Kandhkot.

2) Petroleum:

Petroleum or Crude, oil is used in transport, power-generating stations, in iron and steel furnace Petroleum is known as black liquid gold. Of the total requirement only 40 percent is produced with the country and the rest is imported from abroad. Crude oil is found at Jhelum, Rawalpindi, Badin, Attock and Mianwali.

3) Coal:

Coal is used in thermal power station and in furnaces for making bricks. About 80 percent of cement industry has now switched over to indigenous coal from furnace oil that has saved considerable foreign exchange being spent on the import of furnace oil. Quality of coal is not very good. It is available at Dandot, Makerwal, Harnai, Lakhra (Sindh). The coalfield in the Sindh province has huge coal resources of about 175 billion tones. In view of the anticipated shortfall of electricity and other energy resources during the next 10 years, the maximum utilization of coal would be required in power generation and gasification. To ascertain commercial viability of mining coal from Thar (Sindh), German consultants have completed a mining feasibility on a specific block in Thar Coalfield.

The coalfields in the Sindh province have coal resources estimated at 175 billion tones. Due to high cost of imported energy, government has decided to enhance the share of coal in the over all energy mix from 5 percent to 19 percent by 2030. Over 80 percent of coal was consumed by the brick kiln industry thus reducing the supply available for power generation. Approximately 80 percent of cement industry has also switched over to indigenous coal from furnace oil that has saved considerable foreign exchange being spent on the import of furnace oil. The conversion of cement industry from furnace oil to coal has generated a demand for 2.5 to 3.0 million tons coal per annum.

4) Chromites:

Chromite is used in making engineering tools and stainless steel. It is found at Chaghi, Muslim Bagh, Malakand and Zhob.

5) Copper:

Copper is used in electrical equipment, power and communication transmission lines. It is found at Sandak, Chaghi.

6) Gypsum:

Gypsum is used in the manufacture of cement, fertilizers and Plaster of Paris. It is found at Hazara, Kohat, D.G.Khan and Dandot.

7)  Iron Ore:

Iron ore is used in making steel and engineering products. Quality of iron ore is not of good standard. It is found at Kalabagh, Chitral, Hazara, Makerwal and Khuzdar.

8) Rock Salt:

Rock salt is used for cooking as well as in the manufacture of soda ash. It is also used in textile and tanning industries. It is found at Khewra, Warcha and Kalabagh.

9) Marble and Granite:

Marble is used for decoration in construction industry. It is available in great quantities at various places of the country.

10) Lime Stone:

Limestone is used in manufacture of cement, bleaching powder and glass and paint industries. It has rich deposits in the country. Lime stone is found at Hyderabad, Potohar and at Khewra Salt range.