LAHORE: Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has ordered comprehensive security arrangements to safeguard personnel, logistics, and transportation involved in the Reko Diq mining project. The directive came during a crucial meeting chaired by the Prime Minister.
A delegation from Barrick Gold Company led by CEO Mark Bristow also attended the meeting via video link. Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb, Minister for Petroleum Musadik Malik, and other high-level officials were present at the meeting.
During the meeting, PM Shehbaz underscored the necessity for consultations with all stakeholders at the official level and the removal of any obstacles hindering the project’s progress. He specifically called for plans to enhance communication infrastructure, particularly railway lines, to leverage Balochistan’s mineral resources effectively.
Road Infrastructure to Link Reko Diq Project to Gwadar Port
The Prime Minister emphasized the speedy completion of road upgrades linking the Reko Diq project to Gwadar Port, as well as the swift construction of new roads. He also stressed the strategic importance of assessing the feasibility of a rail and road network from Reko Diq to Gwadar Port, highlighting the potential benefits for the mineral-rich district of Chaghi and the overall mining industry.
PM Shehbaz requested a comprehensive briefing next week on the road and rail connectivity project for Reko Diq. He further instructed the removal of all obstacles to facilitate the timely completion of the environmental and social impact assessment associated with the Reko Diq project.
During the meeting, it was revealed that the feasibility study for the Reko Diq project is slated for completion by December 2024. Plans are in place to transport 6000 containers monthly from the project site to the port, with the project’s concentrate pipeline expected to become the second-longest slurry pipeline globally.
Moreover, the mining company will undertake the construction of a 40-kilometer link road from Reko Diq to the national highway. Progress on the 103-kilometer Nokandi to Mashkhel road, connecting Reko Diq to Gwadar port, was reported to be at 58 percent completion.
