Naseebullah Khan
In 1961, the geological survey of Pakistan had discovered the copper deposits of Saindaq, located in the District Chaghi, Balochistan. The total mineral deposits, as per the observation of Mr. Mahfooz Ali Khan, ex-secretary finance and economist, calculated 412 million tons at average metal contains 0.37 pc Copper, 0.44 pc grams Gold, and 1.5 gram/ton Silver in three bodies. In 1990, the agreement was signed between a Chinese company the China Metallurgical Group Corporations (MCC), and the RDL for South ore body. In 1995, 1500 matric tons of blister copper and Gold were extracted.From 1996 to 2001, because of paucity of skilled manpower, and by dint of the Copper market in the world that was declining,affected the Saindaq project; resultantly, the project was stopped for the said period and the province had to spend Rs 300 million on the salaries and maintenance. In 2001, the government of Pakistan signed a lease contract with the MCC, which was to be promulgated from February 10, 2002. The terms and conditions of the agreement contained the points: 1. The agreement will be for ten years. 2: The SML had to get 0.5 million dollars annually. 3: The SML had a surplus cash share of 50 percent of the profit. 4: The government of Balochistan had to enjoy 2 percent of the royalty, which was increased to 5 percent in 2009. In 2012, after the expiration of the agreement, that was renewed for further 5 years, again in 2017, it was extended for another 5 years until 2022.After the initiative of Aghaz Haqooq Balochistan, the share of Balochistan was increased to 30 percent. For some years the province got the share, but later on, due to the mutual tussle between the FNR and the SML, the share was stopped. In 14 years Rs 7.1 billion has been provided to Balochistan as dues.In compliance with the Dawn report, there are three ore reserves in Saindaq: South Ore Body, North Ore Body, and East Ore Body. Each ore reserve is divided into ‘benches’. The total reserves in the South Ore Body are 111 million tonnes and its copper percentage is 0.430. Whereas the total reserves of the North Ore Body are 28 million tonnes while the mine has a projected life of four years. The copper percentage is 0.440.eanwhile, the East Ore Body is endowed with 273 million tonnes along with a copper percentage of 0.34. Not to talk of Balochistan, Chaghi which has the badge to be the place where the atomic bomb experiment had taken place__has been in the clinches of piteous social indicators. It is the largest, resource-rich, and one of the least developed districts of the province. Where the literacy rate of just 29 percent while the poverty rate is 59 percent.Balochistan does not deserve such negligence on the part of the federal government. The wounds of the people need healing. Such kind of attitude will further accelerate alienation
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