QUETTA: The Balochistan Chief Minister on Tuesday proposed that the Reko Diq mining area be declared an Export Processing Zone on the request of Balochistan Government and the Export Processing Authority.
The Balochistan Government is expected to sign a memorandum of understanding with the Export Processing Zone Authority in this regard soon. Samar Mubarakmand had informed Chief Minister Nawab Mohammad Aslam Raisani of the development during a meeting of the Board of Governors of Reko Diq Project in Islamabad. Rasani is the Chairman of the Board of Governors of the Reko Diq Copper and Gold Project.
The Chief Minister pledged to use the sovereign right of the people of Balochistan in ensuring the implementation of the plan to exploit copper and gold for the benefit of the people of Balochistan.
“Whether we remain in government or not, we will leave a valuable asset and a gift for the people of Balochistan and Pakistan in the shape of Reko Diq Copper and Gold Project,” the Chief Minister declared. “It will remain a gift for the people of Balochistan,” hinting at perhaps a continued longevity of the project which may remain unaffected by any change in the Chief Minister House on Zarghun Road.
Raisani said that he had experienced and bore tremendous pressure from various quarters to defend the sovereign right of the people of Balochistan on this Project. He said he and his colleagues would never surrender to those pressures, taking a jibe at the international arbitration to which the Reko Diq is now subject to.
“There was a pressure and demand that we sell this vital economic and prestigious project at a throw away price to interested parties which we refused,” Nawab Raisani said, adding,” some people from the surroundings also tried to create trouble for the Provincial Government and we frustrated all evil designs in this connection.”
Nawab Raisani disclosed that international forces were also opposed to the plan that Balochistan Government operates the project for which they used different means and pressure tactics against the Government. “The project will allow Pakistan to stand on its economic feet without foreign assistance or charity,” he added.
He said that all those elements constantly criticising the government should also appreciate the good work done including the decision to operate Reko Diq Copper and Gold Project in the public sector and not to sell it to a foreign company.
As Chairman of the Board of Governors, Nawab Raisani approved decisions of the past meeting. He also approved a budget of Rs1.8 billion of the project and the revised policy to recruit competent and technical people on various posts.
The Government of Balochistan had also approved the decision to use sub-soil water from the Upper reaches of Tal Ap from where water for the project would be fetched and used.
Dr Samar Mubarakmand also briefed the Chief Minister on the progress so far made on the project. The Geological Survey of Pakistan had pledged to help train manpower for carrying out a drilling survey of the mining areas of the Reko Diq Project. Raisani was also told that the applications received for technical staff were being processed. Chief Minister issued instructions that all recruitment should be made purely on merit and the local people should be given preference over others.
COMMENTS (11)
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well , i have read the comments. 500million dollars are worth nothing in lieu of what is present at reko diq. Its the corrupt system which allowed them to take it away at throw away rates. And these companies exploit niches, pure business goes like this! But if foreign companies ensure trust, its no problem using them!
"Dr Samar Mubarakmand also briefed the Chief Minister on the progress so far made on the project......."
Why is this guy involved with the project? Is he not a "mayanaz aatami sainsdan"? He is heavily involved in the Thar coal project and I believe he has appointed himself as the head of some Thar Coal Energy Development Board (I am not sure if I got the name right) while working for the Planning Commission of Pakistan. Is he allowed to do that? Now he is involved in the Reko Diq project as well. I am afraid he is going to have his sons involved in both projects soon, if he hasn't already.
@solhail Baloch, ParvezM. You may not like what I said but you offer nothing to refute the statement. The reality is that your govt is expecting lose in arbitration which explains why Balochistan is posturing to get the Federal govt to pay the expected penalties. It's not my fault your country can't honor a contract.
Dear Cautious, have you visited the web protest Barrick, please visit it. the 500 million $ which you mentioned, half of it is the name TCC they bought and the others they have spent on their lugsurries, All the locals and foriegners are involve in this flowing river, you can see the pictures of Naseer Baloch at Facebook you can watch and see contractors with them in Picnics they do every week at Ziarat, the Houses(condomoniums) the foriegners bought and given on rent at Bangkock, and Canada, the consultants who were paid hundreds of thousand. just conduct inquary just friends of them, wife of them for sleeping at home they been paid and many more, which is preplan to blackmail Balochistan and Pakistan on this huge amount.and the media in Pakistan miss samia ali Shah has bought no one of elctronic or print media is ready to print or braodcast against them, if you want prove or any Journalist want to write please reply on my Email address, I will provide the proves
please balochistan provincial govt stand in your feet. don't bow down to the international or corrupt national pressure. preserve the rights of people.
There is at least one leader who cares for Baluch people. Now watch greedy, dollar grabbing people attack him. @ Cautious is an Indian troll always lurking around to say nasty things.
@Cautious are you the PR manager of one of these mining companies? seemingly you speak for them and not the people of Balochistan. Mr. Raisani has done a lot of harm then good to the province but he is right on this issue.
Good decision!
Gold & Copper are precious minerals; it may be suggested that as in case of Oil or Gas reserves found in any province, it is taken over as a national asset; same rule could apply here, with major share with the province.
Moreover, benefits of any or all resources can only be passed to the local population, if the feudal lot want it so.
This stands true for all provinces of Pakistan.
Lets stop being selfish and self-centered.
You can label it anything you want but it doesn't change the fact that your trying to swindle two large international mining giants after they invested over $500 million. When they win the arbitration proceedings your going to be stuck with astronomical lawsuit and no foreign investor is going to touch this project until you satisfy the judgement. . The long and short of this dispute is the fact that copper and gold prices have skyrocketed and Pakistan wants to re-write the deal --- hindsight is nice but commodity prices fluctuate and what goes up will eventually come down. There is little doubt that had prices stayed the same or had gone down Pakistan would not have tried to rewrite this contract. . Chest thumping may get politician's votes -- but it won't attract foreign investors.
Provincial Govt should take control of this area and use the resources for the benefit of local people, rather than international companies (read deeper than river friends) coming in by bribing central officers. This province can become next dubai or saudi, if the wealth remains with local people instead of getting looted by outsiders.