The Punjab government has verified the presence of gold reserves valued at Rs800 billion in Attock, located at the junction of the Kabul and Indus rivers.
According to officials, it took a year to confirm the findings initially reported by the Geological Survey of Pakistan (GSP) in February 2024. The verification process, conducted by NESPAK, confirmed the presence of gold deposits.
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Former Mines Minister Ibrahim Hassan Murad announced the discovery on February 7, 2024, estimating the reserves at 2.8 million tolas of gold. He projected revenue of Rs600-700 billion for the province, highlighting the potential of Punjab’s natural resources.
The GSP identified nine placer gold blocks, which will soon be auctioned. Placer gold refers to deposits found in riverbeds and streams. Alongside gold, the survey also detected zinc, silver, nickel, manganese, and copper. The research covered 75 square kilometers, focusing on the Indus River and its tributaries.
Provincial Minister Sher Ali Gorchani announced plans to auction the mining rights internationally. A high-level committee will brief Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz on the discovery.
Officials view this as a transformative opportunity to develop Punjab’s mining sector and unlock Pakistan’s mineral wealth, paving the way for economic growth.