Minerals:
Amineral is anaturally
occuring inorganic substance that is a key material basis for socio-economic
development..
Mineral
Resources of Pakistan:
Pakistan has deposits
of mineral resources such as coal, copper,
gold, limestoneetc. Just like other developing countries Pakistan has not yet
been able to promote growth and alleviate poverty by using our mineral
resources to the maximum extent possible. Pakistan is taking advantage about 52
Minerals but at small scale. Coal, rock salt and other construction materials
are mostly produced. The mineral sector is mostly concentrated about five main
minerals such as limestone, coal,gypsum, sulphur, crude oil and natural
gas.Mineral sector is currently contributing about 0.5% of GDP.
Pakistan is a country
with large deposits of minerals provides a sound base for the development of a
large number of Industries viz, Iron & Steel, Petrochemicals, Cement,
Pottery etc. Various mineral deposits discovery provides employment to a large
number of persons living in these areas, and improves their economic
conditions. The availability of mineral resources in the country reduces the
import bill of many items like, oil, chemicals etc. The mining sector thus
makes a significant contribution to GDP.
Pakistan has been
quite resources compared developing countries rich in mineral to many other of
the world. Earmarked for minerals. (i) Hazard for Bauxite (ii) Chiral for Iron
(iii) North-east Baluchistan and adjacent parts of Waziristan for Coal,
Chromite, Copper and Marble (iv) ThePostwar Plateau for Oil, Natural Gas, Coal
(v) The Salt Range and Malarial region for Rock salt,Coal and Gypsum (vi) Lower
Indus plain for Gas, Oil and Coal.
The advantages of mineral
resources in the development of the countary:
1.Copper
and Gold:
Due the huge
investment in the development of Saindak copper and gold deposit it's important
resource of Pakistan. Major investment opportunities in Copper and Gold sectors
are :
·
Modern Copper and Gold mining
projects
·
Copper and Gold refining plants
2.Iron Ores:
In Punjab iron Ores
are present in large deposits.In Pakistan about 1.427 billion metric tons of
reserves of various grades of iron Ores are found.
MajorinvestmentopportunitiesinIron sectorare:
·
Modern iron ore mining machines
·
Iron ore processing and steel
productionplant
3.Gypsum:
In Khyber Pakhtonkhwa largest resources of Gypsum are found.GeologicalSurveyofPakistan(GSP)estimatestherearetotal185billiontonscoalreservesofPakistanamongwhich184billiontonsreservesareintheSindh.MajorinvestmentopportunitiesinGypsum sectorare:
·
High quality plants of plaster of
Paris
· Modern machinery for gypsum sector
4.Chromite:
In Balochistan and
Khyber Pakhtynkhwa largest reserves of Chromite are found. Pakistan can become
a major exporter of Chromite.MajorinvestmentopportunitiesinChromite sectorare:
· Chromite production plant
· Ferrochrome production plant
5.Coal:
Geological Survey of Pakistan (GSP) estimates there are total 185 billion tons coal reserves of Pakistan among which 184 billion tons reserves are in the Sindh.In Balochistan about 217 million tons of coal reserves are found. And in Punjab about 235 million tons coal reserves are found.MajorinvestmentopportunitiesinCoal sectorare:
·
Energy power plants running on
coal
·
Washing plants for coal
·
Briquetting plant for coal
6.Natural Gas:
About 31 trillion
cubic feet are the total natural gas reserves in the Pakistan. Which are mostly
found in Balochistan and Sindh.GeologicalSurveyofPakistan(GSP)estimatestherearetotal185billiontonscoalreservesofPakistanamongwhich184billiontonsreservesareintheSindh.
7.Natural Oil:
Natural Oil is mostly
found in Sindh and Punjab.
8.China Clay:
It's found in Sindh.It's also known as Kaolin. It contains
16-31 clay.
9.Limestone:
High quality Limestone
is mainly found in Khyber Pakhtonkhwa and Northern areas of Pakistan. Around
8697 Metric tons is average annual production its used mainly in the
manufacture of cement, road making, building construction and in the chemical
industries.
