ISLAMABAD, Pakistan: The government has launched an ambitious plan for extensive evaluation of metallic minerals’ potential existing in Bela and Uthal areas of district Lasbeela in Balochistan.
“The evaluation is being carried out at a cost of Rs 56.700 million, out of which Rs 20 million have been released during the current year, while Rs 8.9 million will be spent in next fiscal year for exploration and evaluation of metallic and minerals in the selected areas of Balochistan province,” official sources told the state-run news agency.
While answering a question, they said the ministry was consistently offering investment opportunities in the mineral sector and extending maximum incentives to local as well as foreign investors.
Inviting investors, the sources said tremendous potential existed for investment in scientific mining, cutting and polishing for value addition of gemstone from the known localities and for exploration of new sites.
The northern and northwestern parts of the country are shrouded by the three world-famous mountain ranges called Hindukush, Himalaya, and Karakorum, from where nearly all the minerals, which Pakistan is currently offering to the world market, have been found so far.