Precious reserves exist in Chiniot-Rajwa which will change the destiny of the nation and eliminate poverty and unemployment from the country, said Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif while addressing a function on the occasion of discovery of reserves of Iron ore and Copper in Chiniot-Rajwa on Wednesday.
Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif especially attended the function along wiyh federal and provincial ministers, national and provincial assemblies members, chairman of Metallurgical Corporation of China working on the project, German consultants, columnists, intellectuals and a large number of people.
Minister for Minerals Ch Sher Ali delivered the welcoming address while Punjab Mineral Development Company Chairman Dr Samar Mubarik Mand expressed his views about the progress on the project.
Shahbaz said that the discovery of ore reserves is a very important event in the history of the country. He welcomed the participants and said that the discovery was a good news for the entire nation. He said that reserves of Iron ore, Copper and Gold have been confirmed in Chiniot-Rajwa.
According to a careful estimate of experts, he said these reserves spread over 2000 sq km, however, initially these reserves have been identified up to 28 sq km which is a great blessing of Almighty Allah.
The chief minister said that during previous dictatorial era, former rulers of Punjab gave illegal contract to a company of a person named Arshad Waheed without an open tender in 2007 for exploring iron ore in this area. He said that when the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) came into power in Punjab in 2008, it cancelled this illegal and corrupt contract and this so-called company approached the Lahore High Court (LHC). He said that the government pursued the case in LHC and the court seconded the government’s decision. He said that in 2007, previous rulers hurt public feelings and did nothing except loot and plunder.
Shahbaz said that former rulers plundered national exchequer in darkness of night whereas the PML-N government made an agreement in a transparent manner in day light. He said that the government started this project from its own resources and gave contract to a renowned Chinese Company Metallurgical Corporation of China through the process of tendering in a transparent manner and due to the hard work of ten months, precious reserves have been certified in the area.
He said that he does not know whether these hidden reserves are of billions or trillions’ dollars, however, this a great gift by Almighty Allah and there are reserves of iron ore, copper and gold. He said that this great project will prove a game changer and the time had come to break the begging bowl which had not been broken in 68 years. He said that the government had to face a lot of difficulties during the course of the project, three secretary minerals were changed, board was removed and international companies were invited transparently for exploration. He said that the government has spent its resources on the project with hard work which has yielded encouraging results.
He said that international laboratories have certified mineral resources discovered from this area. He said that if any province has gas, it gets stay order but we will not do so as not only people of Punjab but the entire Pakistani nation has right over these reserves. He said that the hidden reserves of Chiniot-Rajwa are a harbinger of revolution of prosperity. He said that we will utilise these reserves for bringing industrial revolution, eliminating poverty, unemployment, development and prosperity of the masses. He said that best companies of the world will be invited for investment and they will be provided special incentives.
He said that the Chinese company has promised to complete the acceptable feasibility report of the project for the bank by the end of this year, however, it is our endeavour to get completed this feasibility report at the earliest. He said that a business plan of the project will also be evolved.
He said that the Chinese company has shown interest in establishing a steel mill in the area which will provide job opportunities to the people of Chiniot and the boost the development of the area. He said that people of Chiniot have first right over the reserves and we will provide them this right.