Confirmation of Gold Reserves
Punjab’s Minister for Minerals, Sher Ali Gorchani, has confirmed the presence of 2.8 million tolas of gold reserves in the Attock district, near the Indus River. These reserves are valued at PKR 800 billion or USD 2.87 billion.
Initial Discovery and Survey
The preliminary claim about the gold reserves was made by former caretaker Minister for Minerals, Ibrahim Hassan Murad, in February of the previous year. He stated that the reserves were located in a 32-kilometer stretch near Attock and were confirmed by the Geological Survey of Pakistan (GSP).
Comprehensive Surveys
The GSP conducted a thorough survey, collecting samples from 127 locations. The survey not only confirmed the presence of gold but also identified other minerals like zinc, silver, nickel, manganese, and copper.
Government Action
Following the confirmation by the GSP and further verification by NESPAK, the Punjab government has decided to conduct an international auction for mining those reserves. A high-level committee will brief Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz about the findings and the next steps.
Future Prospects
The discovery and planned extraction of these gold reserves are expected to significantly boost the province’s economy, with further international collaborations anticipated.