Pakistani Geologist with Global Experience Envisions $51 Trillion Potential of Minerals in Pakistan

Posted by Syed Nayyar Uddin on January 3, 2025 in Uncategorized |

EVALUATION OF MINERALS POTENTIAL OF PAKISTAN
Dr. Imran Khan
Director General (Retd)
Geological Survey of Pakistan

Vast resources of coal (186 billion tons), copper (6 billion tons), gold (1 billion ton), silver (618 million tons), lead-zinc (23 million tons), manganese (.597 million ton), chromite (2.52 million tons), iron ore (1.4 billion tons), and precious, and semiprecious stones have been explored in different parts of Pakistan. Inexhaustible resources of rock salt, gypsum, fire clay, china clay, dolomite, fuller’s earth, limestone, basalt, bentonite, building stones, and construction materials are available in all the provinces. Gemstones and industrial minerals like nepheline syenite, ochre, bentonite, barites, magnesite, wolastonite, silica sand, abrasives, mica, granite, graphite, trona and lithium are found in substantive quantities. The concentration of Rare Earth Elements (REMs, Strategic Metals) like Gadolinium (Gd) and Terbium (Tb) has been reported in considerable quantities from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KPK) and Balochistan. Platinum Group Elements (Iridium, Osmium, Palladium, Rhodium, Ruthenium and Platinum) have also been discovered in different parts of Pakistan.
Based upon available data of mineral resources of Pakistan and their respective rates from London Metals Exchange (LME) for different metals, minerals and elements, the insitu (in place) value of mineral resources of Pakistan amounts to around US $ 51 trillion (excluding oil, natural gas and inferred 586 TCF of Shale Gas) whereas the total GDP of top seven economies in the world in 2024 was $51.81 trillion, as estimated by the GDPs of following seven countries {USA ($ 25.81 trillion), China ($14.72 trillion), Japan ($ 4.25 trillion), Germany ($3.85 trillion), India ($3.41 trillion, United Kingdom ($ 2.67 trillion), and France ($2.63 trillion)}.
But, the mineral industry in Pakistan is still in its nascent stage. Its contribution in GNP is about 0.5%, and to GDP is less than 1%. However, the mineral sector of Pakistan is going through a substantial but slow transformation. Several countries like South Africa have minerals based economies which make significant contributions in their development. Mineral sector of Pakistan has huge potential for employment generation through construction of line industries close to minerals extraction zones to form specific mineral clusters. With concerted and consistent efforts, and taking following measures, it has every potential to contribute at least 5% of GDP through time.
i. Establishment of Rare Earth Metals Authority of Pakistan (REMAP)
Mr. Deng Xiaoping, the then Chinese President said about two decades ago “The Middle East has oil and China has Rare Earths”. China controls the global prices of REMs as it accounts for over 80% of world production and global market of over 100 billion dollars / year.
Rare Earth Elements are commonly found in Carbonatite, Peralkaline, and Pegmatite rocks which are abundantly found in KPK and Balochistan but their REM potential has not been fully explored. Some recent work on geochemical analyses of these rocks has revealed that Pakistan has substantial quantities of REMs. Because of their strategic importance, some countries have established Rare Earth Metals Authorities which work directly under the respective prime ministers e.g. India. It is proposed that Rare Earth Metals Authority of Pakistan (REMAP) may also be established under the direct administrative control of the prime minister.
ii. International Recognition of Mineral Deposits
There is not much information about mineral resources of Pakistan, according to internationally accepted resource definitions, which are in practice such as JORC Code (Australia) and CIM (Canada). It will help in categorization of mineral deposits of Pakistan on globally recognized criteria. This initiative will play cutting edge role in attracting foreign investments in mining sector as reports on mineral resources, validated according to JORC Code are widely accepted and well-treated by the international investors but interest of Pakistan has to be kept supreme in technical agreements to avoid Reko Diq like situations.
iii. Advanced Mechanized Mining Technologies
At present, the mining techniques in Pakistan are conventional, traditional, less efficient and out dated which are unsafe, unfriendly to environment, reduce life span of mine and less productive. Pakistan needs to concentrate on developing a holistic mineral policy targeting restructuring the sector from grass root level. Emphasizing the mining related environmental issues, fostering mechanized mining methods for maximizing mineral extraction efficiency and intensifying and equipping the mining laws enforcement agencies.
iv. Development of Infrastructure
Infrastructure Development involves fundamental structures that are required for the functioning of a system especially in mineral sector. Mostly, the mineral deposits of economic worth are in the remote and tribal areas of Pakistan where infrastructure is non-existent. Establishment of training institutes through CSR for local populace will be a milestone in the development of mining sector.
v. Exploration Activities in Pakistan
After the 18th constitutional amendment and National Mineral Policies – 1995, 2013, most of the exploration activities are being executed by the provincial Mines and Mineral Development Departments (DMD). These departments are not fully equipped and do not have expert manpower in different disciplines of the science of geology to execute the mineral exploration activities. Therefore, there is utmost need to enhance their technical capacities.

Dr. Imran Khan
Ph.D. (USA)
Islamabad
Mobile. 0301-5344597

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Copyright © 2010-2025 Loud Thinking All rights reserved.