SPA Pakistan s mining and quarrying sector has registered a growth rate of 5.6 percent as against 4.58 percent of last year, officials said. The increased growth was propelled by strong growths recorded in magnetite (30%), dolomite (26.1%), Limestone (25.2%) and chromites. To make this sector thrive more the government has started various initiatives which is evident from the discovery and development of world class copper-gold deposits in Chagai, Balochistan, by Australian Firms that would fetch $ 500 million to $ 600 million per year during the lives of these mines, an official said. He said that successful up-gradation studies being carried out by German Consultants on Dilband Iron Ores Balochistan would, to a large extent, minimize importation of Iron Ores 1.7 million tons iron ores costing about Rs 3.2 billion per year. Development of Thar coal field, one of the largest good quality lignite deposits in the world, on completion, would provide additional source of energy. Moreover development of abundantly available high quality industrial minerals and natural stones has bright prospects for exports, import substitution and local consumption, the official said. He added that the confidence of foreign investors, developers and consultants repose in Pakistan, clearly demonstrate the successful implementation of investment oriented policies initiated by the present regime. The minerals under various phases of exploration, development and utilization in Pakistan are Energy Minerals (coal), Agriculture Minerals (rock phosphate, gypsum), Metallic Minerals (iron ores, copper, gold, zinc-lead, chromite, antimony), Refractory Minerals (refractory clays, magnesite, chromite, silica sand, dolomite) and Glass & Ceramic Minerals (kaolinchina clay, nephyeline syenite, silica sand). The official said Pakistan has a widely varied geological framework, ranging from pre-Cambrian to the present that includes a number of zones hosting several metallic minerals, industrial minerals, precious and semi-precious stones. -end- _____ Tonight's top picks. What will you watch tonight? HYPERLINK "http://us.rd.yahoo.com/tv/mail/tagline/tonightspicks/evt=48220/*http://tv.yahoo.com/"Preview the hottest shows on Yahoo! TV.
