Pakistan needs to frame and implement policies that ensure responsible mining practices and sustainable development of the country’s mineral sector. This was stressed by Muhammad Yaqub Shah, a principal geologist serving with an Islamabad-based mining company. “Pakistan direly needs sustainable exploration, development, mining and value addition,” he said. Yaqub said in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, a few private firms and Frontier Works Organisation were working on a commercial scale to extract copper and other associated minerals from Kurram, North and South Waziristan districts. “In these areas, more than 500 square kilometre area consist of copper-bearing rocks,” he said, asking the provincial government to attract investors to extract minerals in the province. He said the provincial governments should also plan for the sustainable exploration and development of their mineral sources.

“This will not only help meet the domestic industrial needs but also allow the country to export value-added mineral products. Communities depending on the mineral sector will also have sustainable livelihoods.” Abdul Bashir, chief geologist at Baluchistan-based Koh-i-Daleel Minerals Company (Pvt) Limited, said: “Pakistan has significant mineral resources such as coal, copper, gold, or precious or semi-precious gems, industrial stones, and many other minerals. Sustainable exploration and extraction of these resources can really give a fillip to the national economy.” He said a robust regulatory framework was also required to govern all these activities, ensuring adherence to international best mining practices, which stipulated rehabilitation and restoration of areas post-mining operations, environmental protection and conservation, community engagement, water conservation, reforestation and proper waste management and establishment of value chains.

Bashir said indigenous exploration and development on a sustainable basis will help cut back on imports and production costs as most local industrialists imported the processed minerals. The mining expert said investment in research and innovation could lead to the adoption of modern technologies like remote sensing, geospatial mapping and advanced drilling methods to decrease the ecological footprints of mining operations. Talking to WealthPK, miner and gemmologist, Imran Babar said sustainable mineral exploration and development required a holistic approach keeping economic, environmental and social factors in view.

Credit: Independent News Pakistan