Pakistan The Richest Country


Natural Resources of Pakistan

Pakistan is endowed with abundant natural resources. The natural resources of Pakistan contribute significantly to the country's overall economy. It's for commercial consumption or manufacturing. However, to enhance the country's economy and boost growth, appropriate use of natural resources is essential.

According to official reports, other countries such as China are interested in investing in Pakistan to profit from the country's natural resources. This step is also beneficial to Pakistan because investment in the country increases job opportunities. This leads to employment growth, and the proper use of natural resources also helps to boost the overall economy.

Pakistan- A Blessed Country

Pakistan is a blessed land with many natural resources, and the country's location is excellent for it to serve as an economic hub for other nearby countries interested in doing business and utilizing our territory's resources.

Pakistan is the Islamic Republic in South Asia with a 650-mile coastline on the Arabian Sea and the Gulf of Oman. The country's west side is bordered by the country, Afghanistan, and Iran. However, India is on the east side of the country, whereas China is on the northeast.

Pakistan is strategically placed between Central Asia, South Asia, and the Middle East, making it an ideal country in terms of location. Furthermore, the land contains important natural resources throughout the country.

Coal, gold, copper, bauxite, mineral salt, chromite, iron ore, and a variety of other minerals and natural resources are among Pakistan's vast reserves. Pakistan also mines ruby, topaz, and emerald, among other precious and semi-precious minerals.



Copper and Gold

Reko Diq Gold mines of Balochistan valued at $260 Billion and could be worth $1 Trillion.

Copper and gold resources from Baluchistan can be found in Reqo Diq. Antofagasta, which owns the Reqo Diq field, plans to produce 170,000 metric tonnes of copper and 300,000 ounces of gold per year at first. The project could produce about 350,000 tonnes of copper and 900,000 ounces of gold each year. Copper deposits can also be found in the Chaghi district's Daht -e- Kuhn and Nokkundi.


Mining

Mining is an industry or a procedure for extracting minerals or coal from a mine. However, in Pakistan, it is a necessary step in helping the economy grow as a result of natural resources. Pakistan mines coal, copper, salt, gold, chromite, and a variety of other minerals, ores, and gemstones such as emerald and ruby.

At the Saindak, Pakistan possesses substantial copper and gold ore resources. Other substantial concentrations of rock salt can be found in the Pothohar Plateau. Pakistan's mineral resources include limestone, gypsum, chromites, rock salt, silver, iron ore, precious stones, marbles, jewels, tiles, fire clay, sulfur, and silica sand, among other things.


List of Natural Resources of Pakistan

Numerous natural resources in Pakistan provide numerous benefits; nevertheless, the following is a list of the most common natural resources present in Pakistan.

  • Coal
  • Mineral oil
  • Natural Gas
  • Forest
  • Land
  • Uranium
  • Water
  • Air
  • Gypsum
  • Iron Ore
  • Copper
  • Chromite
  • Salt
  • Marble
  • Limelight

Coal

Coal is one of Pakistan's most important natural resources. Despite being a current player in the energy sector in Pakistan, coal is still a significant portion of the power mix. In the last two years, four coal-fired power plants built under the CPEC have contributed 19 percent of Pakistan's total power generation.

Pakistan had previously explored coal seams of low to medium quality in Punjab. This resource, on the other hand, is unquestionably advantageous for low sulfur coal, and it has been reported in Baluchistan and near Islamabad. In Pakistan, bituminous and subbituminous coal, as well as lignite coal, are available.

The country's coal reserves are estimated to be worth 185 billion tonnes. It's also the equivalent of 628 billion barrels of crude oil. This natural resource is extremely important to the economy of the country.

Oil and Gas

The country's oil reserves were valued at 0.34 billion barrels in 2020, although the government had set a target of producing 31.12 million barrels of oil and 1.58 trillion cubic feet of gas during the current fiscal year of 2020-2021.

Pakistan has a large natural gas production. The gas field, on the other hand, is likely to persist for another couple of decades.

Sui gas, according to reports, is Pakistan's largest field. It accounts for a significant amount of the country's gas production. Daily, 19 million cubic meters were produced. There are also reports that oil and gas reserves exist beneath the desolate mountains of Balochistan and the dunes of Sindh.

Water

Water is one of nature's greatest gifts. As well as oceans that meet throughout the country.

The fishing sector, on the other hand, is extremely important to Pakistan's economy. The coastline is 814 kilometers long, and the entire fishing resources have an opportunity to expand. Fishing is one of Pakistan's most important sources of revenue.

Pakistan has a varied range of natural resources. Pakistan's human resources include a population of bright young people as well as a growing urban middle class.

Forestry

Forestry supplies a variety of essential resources for our everyday lives and the production of other things. Forest trees also help to keep the environment clean by giving fresh air.

Forests cover only around 4% of Pakistan's area, but they are a key source of lumber, food, paper, firewood, medicine, latex, and other products. These are also valuable in discussions on wildlife and ecotourism.

Uranium

Pakistan has a history of exporting a minor amount of uranium in the past. Pakistan produces a lot of uranium. However, uranium resources in Pakistan are found in both the southern and central parts of the country, such as the Sulaiman Range, Bannu Basin, Dera Ghazi Khan, Kirthar Range, and Issa Khel, Mianwali District.


Mineral Salt

Since 320 BC, the region has been producing salt. The salt mines at Khewra are among the world's oldest and largest. Since 320 BC, salt has been mined in Khewra in a subterranean area of around 110 square kilometers (42 sq mi). The rock salt resources of the Khewra salt mine are believed to amount 220 million tonnes. The mine currently produces 325,000 tonnes of salt per year.

Iron Ore

Nokundi, Chinot, and the largest one in Kalabagh (less than 42 percent quality),Harripur, and other Northern Areas of Pakistan all have iron ore.

Gems and other Precious Stones

A variety of precious stones are mined and polished for both domestic and international markets. Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa is the focal center of this operation. Actinolite, Hessonite, Rodingite, Agate, Idocrase, Rutile, Aquamarine, Jadeite, Ruby, Amazonite, Kunzite, Serpentine, Azurite, Kyanite, Spessartine (garnet), Beryl, Marganite, Spinel, Emerald, Moonstone, Topaz, Epidote, Pargasite, Tourmaline, Garnet (almandine), Peridot These stones are worth more than $200 million in export.



Other Natural Resources

Petroleum and Natural Resources Ministry Pakistan ensures supply, such as gas and oil availability. They do, however, secure the use of other natural resources and minerals, whether they are adequately employed or not.

Pakistan's natural and mineral resources also contribute to the country's economic growth. The country is still attempting to better utilize all of its resources to gain greater benefits from them while also creating cash for the economy.

China will be one of the most important investors in Pakistan's natural resources in the next few years. Many projects are now under construction, and they are projected to be a boon to the economy as well as China.

Many parts of Pakistan will be developed with technological use in the next five years; nevertheless, solar installations require sunlight, and having natural sunlight available in Pakistan is a blessing.

List of Power Resources of Pakistan

The following is a list of the most common power resources present in Pakistan.

  • Hydroelectricity
  • Thermal Electricity
  • Solar Energy

Hydroelectricity

In Pakistan, nature has supplied a favorable habitat. The environment is better for producing hydroelectricity. Dam construction is feasible in Pakistan's northern and northwestern regions. Hydroelectricity can be used to build steep slopes in rivers and canals. The Ghazi Barotha project on the Indus River is the best example. 

In Pakistan, both the governmental and commercial sectors have plans to enhance hydroelectricity production. Pakistan produces 4963 megawatts of hydroelectric power. Pakistan's rivers Indus, Jehlum, and Chenab have a combined capacity of 30000 MW.

Thermal Electricity

In Pakistan, thermal power stations generate energy from gas, oil, and coal. Thermal power accounts for 49.8% of total electricity production. Pakistan produces 4921 megawatts of thermal power. Pakistan has 13 thermal power plants in operation. The largest station, which generates 1756 MW, is located near Karachi. Multan is home to the second largest station. It produces 260 MW.

Solar Energy

Solar energy is the energy we obtain from the sun. Pakistan's climate is extremely hot and arid. Because Pakistan sits near the Tropic of Cancer, the sun beams are vertical for the majority of the year. These are hot days. As a result, summer in Pakistan lasts longer than winter. Most of the time, the sun rises. In life, we can make the most of this energy. This is the most cost-effective energy source.

Natural Resources and Sustainable Development

Over the last few decades, the global development paradigm has shifted. The days of countries achieving rapid economic growth with little or no regard for environmental consequences are long gone. In fact, all countries have committed to meeting the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by 2030. The SDGs put a strong emphasis on 'preserving the Earth,' supporting sustainable production and consumption behaviors. Also, innovative solutions to mitigate the effects of accelerating unsustainability.

Pakistan's water storage capacity is around 10% of the country's total water resources. In other words, Pakistan has a maximum storage capacity of 36 days, which is significantly less than the global average of 140 days.

This perilous situation is exacerbated by changing weather patterns brought on by climate change, but it is primarily due to persistent water mismanagement. Pakistan's massive canal system diverts nearly all of the country's water to agriculture. Half of this water, though, is squandered. According to a research by the Indus River System Authority (2017), Pakistan spills USD$21 billion worth of water into the sea each year due to a failing water conservation system.

Agricultural yields are also poor, in addition to the waste of water. Pakistan, for example, produces 3.1 tonnes per hectare of wheat, which is 38% of France's productivity. Similarly, Pakistan's rice yield is 2.7 tonnes per hectare, or 29% higher than the United States. Because agriculture is Pakistan's main source of revenue and employment, better water and land management may significantly boost profitability and production while also enhancing sustainability.

Furthermore, treatment facilities are only found in roughly a dozen places. Similarly, industrial waste is not processed before being released into the nearest body of water. Around 70% of garbage from Karachi, which houses the majority of the country's industry, is believed to be thrown into the Arabian Sea without treatment.

The bottom line

Pakistan is a land bestowed with many blessings. Reko Diq Gold mines of Balochistan valued at $260 Billion and could be worth $1 Trillion. Pakistan's has 187 billion tonnes coal reserves valued US$30 trillion can produce 100,000 MW power for more than 500 years by using clean coal technologies.