A third party validation of coal mining survey is in progress to assess and evaluate whether such resources of Trans-Indus Range are sufficient for supply to proposed coal based power plants for thirty years. Directorate General Mines and Minerals has also engaged a German Consultant (SST-Fugro) consortium for third party validation of the coal mining survey data collected by the department.
Official sources on Friday said the study would cover goals which includes conducting a mining lease based available coal and/or coaly shales/high carbonaceous shales resource estimation and verify coal mines survey data through review of existing data and conducting fresh survey of coal mines in Salt Range and Surghar (Trans-Indus) Range.
The sources said as a result of this study, total coal resources in salt range and Surghar range would be determined and its potential to install coal-based power plants on indigenous coal resources would be determined. Pakistan possesses a large number of industrial rocks, metallic and non-metallic which have not been evaluated.
The mineral wealth of Pakistan contributes meagerly to its GDP. This is due to application of outdated management techniques, inadequate capital and antique technical know-how, besides, unsatisfactory law & order situation in areas where major bulk of our mineral resources lie.
As per statistics, the Mining and Quarrying sector grew by 1.34 percent during 2016-17. Calcite, Bauxite, Ocher, Sulphur, Chromite, Marble, Coal, Quartz, Gypsum and Limestone have posted a positive growth rate of 138.32 percent, 116.25 percent, 60.27 percent, 55.22 percent, 42.62 per cent, 30.14 percent, 22.84 percent, 18.68 per cent, 12.69 per cent and 8.47 per cent respectively.
Highlighting the endeavours of Punjab for promotion of mining, the sources said, being a second largest (area-wise) province of the country, it has vast mineral potential like coal, salt, iron ore, limestone, gypsum, silica sand and fire clay etc. The government of Punjab is striving to follow a road map on mineral exploration projects aimed at enhancing contribution of mineral sector to GDP through improved production.
The other objectives are to expand mining sector by focusing on exploration and evaluation of mineral resources, enhance public sector investment on resource mapping, geo-database development and provision of physical infrastructure, roads and electricity etc. in potential areas, promote facilitation role of government for prospective investor, encourage and support exploration of minerals particularly through private sector, and to promote environment friendly mining practices and take measures for mitigation of environmental hazards for sustainable development of mineral sector.
The achievements made by government of Punjab included Geophysical Survey of Sub Surface Pre-Cambrian Shield Rocks for Metallic Mineral Deposits Iron ore and metallic mineral resource estimation in Chiniot-Rajoa project which led mines and minerals department to undertake geophysical survey of areas where shield rocks are sub-merged including in districts Chiniot, Faisalabad, Sargodha, Sheikhupura, Nankana Sahib, Kasur, Hafizabad etc.
The Geological Survey of Pakistan (GSP) has been engaged to undertake the task. It has completed the scope of work including semi-detailed magnetic survey on 28 topo sheets covering 18000 sq.km area, the sources said and added total magnetic survey data was recorded using Proton Precession Magnetometer, Geometric G856AX, and after applying necessary corrections prepared 2D contour maps using surfur-11. The sources said thirty-two anomalous zones of different intensities were discovered and three, out of 32 so far were selected for integrated geophysical surveys.
Gravity, Magnetic and IP surveys on three selected anomalies near Wad Sayyiadan, Ghutti Sayyiadan and Chak Jhumra are completed. Based on above geophysical data, further evaluation and resource estimation of metallic minerals in entire Punjab is underway under a separate project.
In Mianwali district, industrial mineral resources of limestone, Silica Sand, Fireclay, Gypsum, Rock Salt are available for installation of industrial units of cement, glass, ceramic and chemical. The CPEC route is passing near Daud Khel-Kalabagh (District Mianwali), therefore mineral bases industrial zone near Daud-Khel Interchange (CPEC route) has been proposed. The industrial department has been requested to declare the SEZ as per their SOPs.