Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has directed authorities to ensure foolproof security for workers of the Reko Diq gold and copper mining project and for the logistics and transport from the project’s site to Gwadar port. Mr Sharif issued the directive while chairing a meeting on the Reko Diq project in Lahore, where a delegation from the Canadian mining company Barrick Gold, including its CEO Mark Bristow, participated via video link. The Prime Minister called for consultations with all stakeholders regarding the project at the official level and for all obstacles to be removed.
The Prime Minister also called for planning to be initiated to improve the communication infrastructure, especially railway lines, to utilise the minerals of Balochistan. He said work to upgrade roads to connect the Reko Diq project with Gwadar port should be completed as soon as possible. He called for a strategy to determine the feasibility of a rail and road network from Reko Diq to Gwadar port, stating that the railway line project from Reko Diq to Gwadar would make access to the port short and easy. The premier also sought a detailed briefing on the Reko Diq road and rail connectivity project next week.
According to the meeting’s participants, the feasibility of the Reko Diq project would be completed by December this year. Every month, 6,000 containers would be transported from the Reko Diq project to the port. The concentrate pipeline of the project would be the second-longest slurry pipeline worldwide, and the mining company would build the link road from Reko Diq to the N-40 National Highway. The meeting was told that the 103-kilometre Nokandi to Mashkhel road, which would connect Reko Diq to the Gwadar port, was 58% complete. The Premier also instructed that all hurdles should be removed at the official level for the early completion of the environment and social impact assessment regarding the Reko Diq project.
The meeting was attended by Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb, Petroleum Minister Musadik Malik, Planning Commission’s Deputy Chairman Muhammad Jehanzeb, and high-level officials.
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