Faiza Tehseen

Pakistan must prioritize the development of its indigenous talc processing industry to produce hard rubber and other industrial goods. This move could significantly reduce the import bill while boosting trade and business opportunities, said Abdul Bashir, Chief Geologist at Koh-e-Daleel Mining Company (PVT) Limited, during an interview with WealthPK.

“To foster economic resilience and sustainability, establishing local mineral processing units, including those for talc, is essential," he stated. "China and India have capitalized on their talc reserves, earning substantial revenues. They have reduced processed talc imports for various industrial needs and gained profits by exporting surplus materials. With a focused approach, Pakistan can achieve similar benefits." Highlighting talc’s industrial uses, Bashir explained that it serves as a reinforcing agent to enhance the toughness, resilience, and tensile strength of hard rubber. Its smooth, slippery texture also makes it an effective lubricant, commonly applied between rubber sheets or on rubber product surfaces to prevent stickiness.

He further elaborated that talc is used in producing metal casting molds, as a filler in paper and paint manufacturing, and in the production of rubber, electric cables, plastics, and ceramics. In ceramics, talc contributes to whiteness, thermal expansion, and resistance to crazing, both in body and glaze formulations. Additionally, it acts as a flux at high temperatures and has applications in the beverage and food industry as an additive and a buffing agent for white rice. Talc also finds use as a roofing material. Discussing talc formation and its occurrence in Pakistan, Bashir described it as a clay mineral commonly found in metamorphic rock formations.

“On the Mohs scale of hardness, talc is graded at one, making it the softest mineral. It appears in translucent to opaque forms, with colors ranging from gray to green, often exhibiting a vitreous or pearly luster.” He noted that coarse, grayish-green talc-rich rock, known as soapstone or steatite, is used to manufacture electrical switchboards, sinks, and stoves. Talc also plays a role in pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, and personal care products. “Talc deposits in Pakistan are abundant in regions like Chagai, Ras Koh, Muslim Bagh, Khanozai, and Harnai in Balochistan. Large reserves are also found in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) and Gilgit-Baltistan (GB). While deposits exist in Sindh and Punjab, they are not as extensive,” Bashir added.

He urged policymakers to focus on establishing talc processing facilities to strengthen the mining sector and generate substantial national revenue. Miner and geologist Imran Babar emphasized the need for government support. “Subsidies, low-cost units, or easy loans should be provided. Awareness campaigns can educate miners and stakeholders about the value of processing mined materials, encouraging them to go beyond mere extraction.” In 2023, Pakistan imported hard rubber worth $273.94 thousand from China, with additional imports from countries such as Malaysia, Vietnam, Thailand, and Indonesia.

Simultaneously, from March 2023 to February 2024, Pakistan exported 949 shipments of unprocessed talc, marking a modest 1% growth, primarily to China, South Korea, and Japan. However, from January 2022 to December 2023, Pakistan imported 1,825 shipments of crushed or powdered talc, mostly from China, Afghanistan, and India. These statistics underscore the untapped potential of Pakistan’s talc reserves for reducing imports and boosting exports.

Credit: INP-WealthPk