Federal Minister for Petroleum and Natural Resources Amanullah Khan Jadoon has directed the Geological Survey of Pakistan (GSP) to gear up efforts for the speedy exploration of coal, copper, gold, precious gemstones and metallic and non-metallic deposits to help boost national economy.
He expressed these views while presiding over a meeting to review the progress and action plan to accelerate the pace of development activities in the mineral sector, says a press release here on Thursday.
The Minister said government would encourage and facilitate the local and foreign investment in the mining of coal, copper gold, metallic and non-metallic deposits and setting up of a steel mill at Kalabagh in District Mianwali.
The Minister said the government has chalked out an ambitious plan to produce 20,000 MW coal electricity by 2016 and all-out efforts were being made in this regard to attract the local and foreign investment.
He said as a result of introducing the investor-friendly policies by the government, the mineral sector had witnessed a tremendous growth during the last seven years in the history of the country.
He said utilisation of hi-tech and updated skills were pre-requisite to enhance the rates of success in the exploration of mineral resources. The Minister said Geological Survey of Pakistan should be equipped with modern facilities of training to the geo-scientists and mineral experts to face the emerging challenges in a befitting manner. DG Geological Survey of Pakistan, Mirza Talib Hassan, DG (Minerals) Irshad Ali Khokhar briefed the meeting.