Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz on Friday reviewed a presentation on iron ore potential in the country and directed to initiate process for iron ore exploration to build more steel capacity to leverage full potential of ore. Presiding over a meeting, the prime minister said, there is a need to get maximum benefit from over 780 million tonnes of iron ore spread in Punjab, NWFP and Balochistan.
He said that there is a need to update the feasibility study of Kalabagh iron ore reserves, which is the largest reserves in the country and could cater to the steel production needs of the country.
He asked the Petroleum and Natural Resources Ministry to come up with a comprehensive mining plan in collaboration with the private sector investors. Pakistan Steel Mills should also make use of domestic iron ore and increase its capacity of steel production, he added.
Shaukat also directed Pakistan Mineral Development Corporation (PMDC) and Geological Survey of Pakistan (GSP) to gear up their efforts for mineral exploration in the country.
He said the GSP and PMDC should adopt latest mining technology and the private sector should be collaborated in this work. He directed the restructuring of GSP to make it an effective organisation. It should be equipped with necessary infrastructural facilities to do the job, he added.
Petroleum and natural resources minister, Planning Commission deputy chairman and other officials attended the meeting.