By Faiza Tehseen ISLAMABAD, May 20 (INP-WealthPK): Pakistan has vast deposits of antimony packing enormous potential to be an important source of foreign exchange earning. Millions of tons of this silvery, hard and brittle semi-metal are exported to different countries annually in raw or processed form without converting into a finished product, reports WealthPK. Assistant Director of Geological Survey of Pakistan (GSP) Yasir Shaheen said  in a discussion with WealthPK, “Antimony deposits are found in Tirich Mir, Partisan, Krinj, Pishīn, Kharan, Chaman, Qila Saifullah, Qila Abdullah, etc. Mostly, antimony traces are found in igneous and metamorphic rocks. It’s of considerable grade at some places.” Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Amna Gems and Jewelry Imran Babar told WealthPK that antimony was recovered as a primary commodity or byproduct from some gold or silver deposits and sometimes gold traces were also found with it. “The antimony found in Pakistan is at least of 80% grade. After the acid fuming away of oxides, it remains at almost 70%. Commonly 60-70% average can be found easily. Its uses can be categorized into three main segments, namely flame retardants, metal products and non-metal products. Most metallic use of antimony is in lead acid batteries. As a fire retardant, it is used in plastics, fabrics and other applications. As catalyst, it is used in plastic, paints and glass industries.’’ According to Imran Babar, the main problem is that antimony is refined and processed in Pakistan but nothing is manufactured here. “Unfortunately, it is sold and exported in rough and raw or processed form without converting it into any finished product, which is harmful not only for miners, but also for Pakistan’s economy. Why don’t we manufacture batteries by ourselves? The reason for this question is that we mine it. The batteries manufactured by using antimony are very expensive, at prices ranging between Rs 500,000 and Rs15,00,000. We must export them rather than importing,” he said. Imran said miners lacked the required resources to manufacture any product from antimony. Since it is found at heights or in critical areas, the production and mining level is not higher than the actual strength. Higher labor costs are involved and it is not easy to take the mining equipment there because there exists no proper infrastructure. Mostly, mules are used to take the mining equipment and labor there. It can be said that mules are the only source of transportation there. Mules are used to transport antimony to the stock pads from where automobiles take it to the required destinations. Imran said it was important for Pakistan’s mining authorities to help the local miners. This, he said, will not only bring socio-economic benefits to the local communities, but also benefit Pakistan. Talking to WealthPK, Assistant Manager of Pakistan Mineral Development Corporation (PMDC) Taj Muhammad said, “Antimony is an important mineral and Pakistan has enough deposits. It is processed in Pakistan at a very small scale and is gained in flakes or powdered form after processing. Further processing to convert it in metallic form after smelting is not common in Pakistan. Most of the mining places are inaccessible due to a lack of infrastructure. Sometimes, it becomes difficult to bring bulks of ore on animal backs. The situation will be favorable if private investors are invited or at least public private-partnership modules are allowed. This will not only help solve the funding problem, but also create economic opportunities.’’