Pakistan is a South Asian country. Its area is 881,913 sq. km. It has four provinces: Sindh, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Balochistan, and Islamabad, which is also the capital of Pakistan. It’s the 5th most populous country in the world. Its national language is Urdu, and English is the official language. Mohenjo-Daro, Harappa, Taxila, Kot Diji, Mehar Garh, and Takht-i-Bahi are the archaeological sites. The major cities include Karachi, Lahore, Hyderabad, Islamabad, Quetta, Rawalpindi, Faisalabad, Multan, and Peshawar. There lived 95% Muslims and 5% others. People call it the land of beauty. It includes mountains, valleys, deserts, and coastlines. All these things make Pakistan a lovely country. The changing seasons enhance its aesthetic beauty. Without a doubt, Pakistan is a culturally rich heritage country and the home of Muslims, as well as a land of natural beauty.
Pakistan is full of minerals. Geologists in Pakistan have discovered 92 identified minerals, 52 are commercially exploited with a total annual production capacity of 68.52 MMT. These include copper, gold, coal, iron, salt, gemstones, and many others. These minerals are very important for industrial growth. Furthermore, they also have the power to uplift the economy of Pakistan. Only 52 minerals are in use till now; there are many untapped. If managed properly and wisely, these minerals can bring thousands of opportunities, reduce imports, and also bring billions of dollars, and can make an immense and positive impact on the development of Pakistan.
Gold and Copper:
Reko Dik, an area of Balochistan, holds huge reserves of Gold and Copper. Their estimated value is over $215 billion. The National Resources Limited (NRL) has discovered substantial copper and gold deposits in the Chagai district of Balochistan, a region already known for its mineral wealth, in a significant breakthrough for Pakistan’s mining industry and the national economy. Barrik Gold is developing a project. The company expects to start production by 2028. The Reko Diq project is actually the most important and one of the best mining developments. This will enhance the image of the country and will also attract foreign investments, and make a significant impact on foreign exchange reserves. Other countries like China and Saudi Arabia, and international banks are also playing a significant role in this project.
Coal:
Coal is a black or brownish-black sedimentary rock, has a high amount of carbon and hydrocarbons. It’s a nonrenewable energy resource. It is a complex mixture of mineral matter and organic material. Coal was first discovered during British colonial exploration in the late 1800s, with commercial exploitation starting in Balochistan for railway use. In 1988, during drilling for water in the Thar Desert. Deposits of Coal are mainly found in Sindh province, especially in the Thar Desert. Coal reserves also present in Balochistan and in the Salt Range (Chakwal, Mianwali, and Khushab districts) and Makarwal in the province of Punjab. The Thar coalfield is one of the largest in the world.
The Tharparkar area has the most important deposit of lignite coal, discovered in the 1990s, which approximately contains 175 billion tons of lignite. Additional significant Sindh coal reserves also include Lakhra, Sonda, Jhimpir, and Thatta. Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KPK) and Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) are small coalfield deposits with minor reserves. The total estimated Coal reserves are around 185–186 billion tons, with most in Sindh (Thar region). Coal play significant role in the production of electricity. In 2025, domestic coal usage is projected to reach 25 million tonnes.
Salt:
Salt is also the oldest mineral, mined in Pakistan. Alexander the Great’s army found the Khewra Salt Mine in 326 BC. The Khewra Salt Mine is located in the Jhelum District. It is the world’s second-largest salt mine. It produces the well-known pink Himalayan salt. The Warcha salt mine has been in operation since the 1800s. The total estimated reserves of rock salt in the Punjab Salt Range alone are approximately 25-30 billion metric tons, with an annual production of around 3 million tons. These mines have tremendous reserves; for example, Warcha has 1 billion tons, and Khewra has 220 million tons of salt.
Khwera is also a tourist spot, and it attracts thousands of tourists with its enchanting and stunning structure and eye-catching beauty, as its structure is mind-blowing. Pakistan also exports it to other countries, and it also creates jobs, and it has become a valuable source for the economy. Pakistan is still looking forward to enhancing and upgrading the mines to increase production, and it is also working on improving the safety measures. Pakistan’s salt resources remain a vital mineral asset with significant industrial and economic importance.
Lead and Zinc, two other important minerals found in Pakistan. Lead is use in batteries. Zinc helps to protect metals from rusting. Zinc enhances the life of the metals. They discovered it in the 1980s, now mined with the help of a Chinese company. Mining experts found Lead and Zinc in Duddar. They are located in the Lesbela-Khuzdar belt, Balochistan. The major deposits include Duddar, Surmai, and Gunga, with estimated combined reserves of over 160 million tons of zinc and lead ore. Lead and zinc deposits also appear in various parts of Punjab province, including Kasur, Sargodha, Jhang, Mandi Bahauddin, and Chakwal districts, with estimated reserves of around 270,000 metric tons, of which approximately 170,000 metric tons contain metal.
Iron ore is present across various regions. Its major deposits are in Punjab, Balochistan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KPK), and the Northern areas. It’s very important for industrial growth. Geologists discovered about 500 million tonnes of high-grade iron ore in Chinot. Kalabagh is one of the best and largest iron deposits. Experts believe that more good-quality iron lies in Punjab. As well as Pakistan has over 1.6 billion tons of iron ore. Pakistan plans to make steel mills and decrease iron imports by using local ore.
Other important minerals like Barite, Gypsum, Limestone, and Marble, found in distinct regions of Pakistan. They are significant for economic and industrial values. Barite, found in areas like Khuzdar. The dense mineral use in medical imaging, plastics, drilling fluids, and paints. Gypsum, found in Balochistan’s Suleiman foldbelt area. It also found in South Punjab and D.I.G.Khan. Its deposits are about 14 billion tons. Limestone also found in Balochistan; its deposits exceed 1207 billion tons. It is essential in cement production. Marble, mainly found in Gilgit-Baltistan, Chitral, Skardu, and Azad Kashmir. Northern districts, valued for natural beauty and the presence of different kinds of stones and handicrafts, etc. All these minerals play a vital role in enhancing the economic growth of Pakistan.
Additionally,Pakistan also has significant potential reserves of Rare Earth Minerals (REM) in different regions. It includes Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Chagai in Balochistan, and Dir and Swat. These are very important for advanced technologies like defense systems, electric vehicles, and smartphones etc. The development and exploration of these minerals can place Pakistan at the top of the list and can help strengthen Pakistan’s economic and technological position in the world. Therefore, to unlock the full potential of these resources, Pakistan should pay attention to extracting these minerals. Moreover, The government is also streamlining regulations and developing infrastructure supported by the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) as well as national harmonization framework.
Pakistan holds mineral wealth; however poor management, weak governance, and political instability make it worth less. Pakistan borrows money and imports those goods that Pakistan can easily produce in immense quantities. Indeed, it’s all due to the quick fixes used by those in power. Pakistan is making progress, and it can make more with honest leadership and transparent policies. To reduce debt and to boost the economy, Pakistan should invest in geological surveys and building mining infrastructure. With an estimated $6-$8 trillion in mineral reserves, Pakistan has the power to cut imports and grow exports. All this needs a true vision of self-reliance.
