Chiniot discovery: Minerals were found 10 years ago,says PAT

Dr Raheeq Abbasi demands terms of exploration contract be made public.

LAHORE: Iron ore was discovered in Chiniot-Rajwa 10 years ago. The Punjab government is misleading the people about the find, Pakistan Awami Tehreek (PAT) central president Dr Raheeq Abbasi said on Sunday.

Abbasi released a report about the Chiniot project to the media.

“The prime minister and the Punjab chief minister have made it look like it is the first time iron has been discovered at Chiniot-Rajwa. This is untrue. The contract for exploration was awarded to a private company during General Musharraf’s term. Shahbaz Sharif revoked the agreement in 2008 and gave it to another company,” he said. Abbasi said that the Punjab government had paid over Rs1,200 million to the company over the years. “Under the contract, the findings will only enrich the Sharif family. Why otherwise would the Punjab government keep the name of the company and the terms of the contract a secret?” he asked. Abbasi demanded that details pertaining to the terms and conditions offered to the exploration company be made public. “The people have a right to know what is being done with the mineral wealth that belongs to them,” he said.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 16^th, 2015.