OUR country has long remained underexplored in terms of mineral extraction and its vast resources have largely remained untapped. Our geology holds immense promise with substantial deposits of copper, lithium, iron and other minerals scattered across various regions. However, due to a lack of investment, infrastructure and technology, these resources have remained dormant.
It is, however, a matter of great satisfaction that under the economic revival plan envisaged by the collective wisdom of civilian and military leadership, all the important areas including the mining are being focused. Minister of State for Petroleum Musadiq Malik while addressing a news conference in Islamabad on Monday stated that the financial value of Pakistan’s minerals amounted to $6.1 trillion, surpassing the total net worth of corporate giants such as Apple, Amazon and Google. Indeed, if we bring to use these minerals, it can change the whole economic landscape of our country and help it achieve self-reliance whilst breaking the begging bowl once and for all. The focus is also right as the Minister also stated that by-products from the minerals will be prepared and exported. This will have a ripple effect and also help promote various industries which, in turn, not only enhance our exports but also create immense job opportunities for our youth. We indeed have significant copper deposits with large reserves in Balochistan and other regions. The utilization of modern mining techniques can help unlock these copper riches and pave the way for a booming copper industry. Copper is a crucial metal in various industries, including electrical equipment, construction and telecommunications. By establishing efficient extraction and refining processes, Pakistan can become a major copper producer, contributing significantly to the global supply chain. Similarly, we have vast lithium reserves in the northern regions. By establishing lithium extraction facilities and producing high-quality lithium carbonate, we can secure a crucial spot in the supply chain and boost its exports to burgeoning clean energy markets. We can also develop an integrated iron ore industry by exploiting the iron reserves. The potential is immense and we expect that the mineral conference “Dust to Development” will go a long way in unlocking the potential of this vital sector.
