Provincial department of mines and minerals issued 128 licenses for exploring gypsum in Punjab which caused annual production of gypsum to increase substantially in the province. This was stated by Punjab Minister for Mines and Minerals, Makhdoom Afkar-ul-Hassan while presiding over a meeting of directorate general of mines and minerals, according to a handout.
The minister said that 77 long term leases and 51 experimental licenses have been issued to different parties for exploration of gypsum. "Exploration work of gypsum in the province has been accelerated which enhanced annual production of gypsum".