ISLAMABAD: The Geological Survey of Pakistan (GSP) revealed on Thursday discovery of good quality coal in Badin district of Sindh.

GSP Director General Dr Imran Khan informed the National Assembly’s standing committee on petroleum and natural resources that the new coal deposits were estimated to be over one billion tonnes. The Badin coal is of very good quality and high heating value.

He said there were substantial deposits of gold and copper and more than 200 million tonnes of iron ore but these could not be exploited or utilised because of lack of infrastructure and technology.

He said the exploratory rigs being used by the GSP for survey of natural deposits had been purchased in the 1950s and since then no addition was made.

Toxic waste

Dr Imran told the committee that toxic waste being released by leather factories was contributing to spread of cancer.

The committee expressed concern over the toxic waste and effluent being drained into rivers and streams by oil and gas exploration and production companies. It asked the petroleum ministry to convey its concern to the ministries of health and law for regulating the disposal of the toxic waste resulting in serious diseases. The GSP was asked to submit a detailed report on the issue.

Chaudhry Bilal Ahmed Virk, who presided over the meeting, said the committee would like to know what steps had been taken by the institutions concerned because it was a very serious health issue and could not allowed to go on. It also wanted to know what action had been taken against the people involved in such irresponsible acts, he added.

During a presentation on Saindak, Reko Diq and other mineral projects, the committee expressed displeasure when it was told that an amount of Rs667 million allocated for procurement of latest technology had not been disbursed so far.

It directed the petroleum ministry to approach the Planning Commission and the finance ministry for the release of Rs667m allocated in the Public Sector Development Programme for the GSP to enable it to complete the already delayed projects.

The committee was told that the GSP had carried out geological mapping and other geo-scientific surveys, basic and applied research in earth sciences, scientific investigations for an accurate understanding of the country’s geological resources and their prudent management and environmental geology and hydro-geological studies.

The committee was also given an ‘off-the-record’ briefing on the Reko Diq copper and gold project. It decided to get another in-camera briefing keeping in view the sensitivity of the matter because of international arbitration.

Published in Dawn, May 16th, 2014