Mining in Pakistan

Labour  working in mine

Pakistan as a country is rich in natural resources and as the process of excavation and exploration continues the extent of these vital resources keep expanding. According to many analysts, Pakistan is affluent in natural resources than any-other country. The energy surplus resource potential of the country is more than oil producing gulf countries.

Mining is an important industry in Pakistan. Pakistan possesses numerous mines, processes more than 50 minerals regularly and many are still undiscovered. So far, the minerals that have been discovered in Pakistan include coal, copper, gold, precious and semi-precious gems, iron and salt.

Geographically Baluchistan is the richest province in terms of mineral resources and possesses gold, salt, gas mines. Whereas Sindh and Khyber Pakhtoonkhwa have abundance of coal and gems respectively. Government of Pakistan has developed a formal institute by the name of Pakistan Mineral Development Corporation that is responsible for the development of mining industry, exploration of new and maintenance of existing mines.

Top Five minerals mined and its sources in Pakistan are

Salt:

Khwera Salt Mines, they are one of the world’s biggest and oldest salt mines located in Khwera,Punjab. With estimated reserve of 600 million tons of salt, Khwera Salt Mines also have Lead, Chromium, Zinc, Calcium, Potassium, Manganese, Magnesium and many Sulfates.

A View Of Mine

Copper and Gold:

RekoDiq mines of copper and gold situated in Baluchistan are believed to be the world’s fifth largest copper and gold mine. With least efforts the mines have the capacity to produce atleast 170,000 tons of copper and 300,000 ounces of gold annually.

Coal:

Sindh has abundance of coal reserves with atleast 185 billion tons of good quality coal. Some cities in Punjab and Baluchistan also have small coal mines, but the major source has always been Sindh. Pakistan’s coal reserves are sufficient to produce energy without relying on any artificial mechanism and it is truly unfortunate that despite such profusion the country is still facing energy crisis.

Work In Mine

Precious and Semi-Precious Gems:

Khyber Pakhtoonkhwa is the epicenter of precious and semi-precious gems and stones found in Pakistan. These mainly include aquamarine, ruby, topaz, emerald, moonstone, garnet and many varieties of quartz. The export income that the country earns from it is more than 200 million dollars a year.

Iron Ores:

Iron Ores can be easily traced in districts of Punjab and Khyber Pakhtoonkhwa. The largest deposits are found in Kalabagh, followed by Pachin Koh-Chigendik iron ore deposits of Baluchistan and some in Haripur.

The information stated above atleast testifies one argument that Pakistan is loaded with natural resources. The need of the hour is to take right steps to exploit these blessings and use them for the best of the country and its people.