QUETTA, Dec 17: Balochistan Chief Minister Nawab Aslam Raisani would inaugurate work on Reko Diq copper-cum-gold project in Chaghai district on Jan 7 for which Rs8 billion have been set aside in the budget.

A three-member tribunal of International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes (ICSID), comprising Dr Klaus Sachs, Lord Hoffman and Mr Stanimir A Alexandrov, has allowed Government of Balochistan and Dr Samar Mubarakmand to carry out mining and smelting project in the area, rejecting the plea of Tethyan Copper Company (TCC) regarding urgency and irreparable loss.

The board of governors of Balochistan Copper-Cum-Gold Project here on Monday decided to initiate work at the project at a meeting, presided over by Nawab Raisani.

The meeting decided to establish a mining institute in Dal Bandin to provide training to local youth in mining and make them able to work in the Reko Diq project.

“Hundreds of trained youths of Balochistan would be provided jobs in the project,” the meeting further decided.

The chief minister announced to give scholarships to outstanding students for training in the mining institute.

The experts’ team, headed by Dr Samer Mubarakmand was also directed to complete necessary work on the project as soon as possible.

It was also decided that recruitment would be made on merit and local people would be given priority.

Nawab Raisani directed the departments of planning and development, finance and mineral not to allow any hurdle in the project and take all steps be taken for making the project viable and result-oriented.

The meeting was attended by Dr Samer Mubarakmand, Additional Chief Secretary Aslam Shakir, Finance Secretary Mushtaq Ahmed Raisani, DG Mines Irshad Ahmed Khokhar, Member, Planning Commission Shabbier Ahmed, project director Javed Raza, Advocate General Amanullah Kanrani and lawyer Ahmed Bilal Soofi.