ISLAMABAD, Jul 20: Pakistan will spend an amount of Rs 100 million during the current fiscal year on exploration of minerals potential in province of Balochistan.

According to a document shared by the Geological Survey of Pakistan, the funds will be spent to advance an ongoing project of Petroleum Division for geological mapping of 50 Toposheets of ‘outcrop area’ in Balochistan. Under the project, 50 geological mappings of toposheets of outcrop area, out of 354 unmapped toposheets of Balochistan, are being carried out. “The project will help map outcrop area in detail on a 1:50,000 scale and maintain a database for future exploration of the occurrences of metallic and non-metallic mineral potential, dimension stones, aggregates and limestone reserves for the industry in targeted potential areas of Balochistan,” the document reads.

According to the document, the total outcrop area of Balochistan is 335,360 square kilometer (524 Toposheets) out of which 108,800 sq. km (170 Toposheets) has been mapped and published on a 1:50,000 scale and the maps are available. “These maps are essential for all future detailed geological works including, minerals’ exploration, civil engineering, soil surveys, land use, town planning, groundwater, earthquake hazards, and environmental geology and soil conservation projects,” the document further said.

The outcrop area with mineral potential would be mapped under this project, following which its gained experience would be used in mapping the rest of the outcrop area. The information collected after geological mapping and laboratory testing of rock samples would generate a database for interpretation to lead the individual occurrences of mineral reserves and other natural resources.

Last year, an amount of Rs 30 million had been allocated for the project under the Public Sector Development Programme (PSDP 2021-22).

Credits: INP-WealthPk