By S.M. Inam
Beneath the sun-baked earth of Balochistan, deep within the formidable mountains of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, and under the vast deserts of Sindh, lies a silence that speaks of immense potential. It is the quiet of minerals formed over millennia, a subterranean world of copper, gold, and lithium that has, for decades, been more a subject of hopeful speculation than tangible national gain. Now, as detailed in a recent report by the American journal “Foreign Policy”, this hidden geography of wealth is being mapped with a new urgency, prompting a profound and pressing question: can Pakistan, a nation perennially navigating economic headwinds, finally harness the treasure buried beneath its soil?
The figures are staggering, almost abstract in their scale—deposits of “high international standard” sprawled across 230,000 square miles. But to reduce this to mere statistics is to miss the human story entirely. This is not just about ore and aggregate; it is about the future of a young and growing population. It is about the promise of light in homes that frequently lose power, the prospect of jobs in regions where ambition often outstrips opportunity, and the possibility of a national exchequer fortified against the relentless pressures of imports and debt. The inventory reads like a modern-day alchemist’s dream: copper to wire a digital future, gold to bolster financial stability, and coal that could, if utilized cleanly and efficiently, fire the industries of tomorrow.
The real narrative, however, unfolds not in boardrooms in Islamabad or Karachi first, but in the rugged landscapes where this wealth resides. In Balochistan, the name Reko Diq is more than a mining project; it is a symbol, a decades-long saga of promise and frustration that encapsulates the nation’s complex relationship with its own resources. For the local populations, the sight of geological surveys and the whispers of international investment are met with a justifiable wariness, mingled with a fragile hope. They have heard the promises before—the talk of schools, hospitals, and roads that would follow the extraction of their natural inheritance. Too often, that talk has echoed and faded, leaving little but dust and disillusionment.
Recognizing this fraught history, the government’s proposed National Mineral Policy 2025 appears, on paper, to be a document of learned lessons. Its ambitions are rightly pitched on the pillars of transparency and modern technology. It speaks the necessary language of protecting foreign investment while making the crucial, and long-overdue, commitment to ensure that local populations are not mere spectators to their own region’s transformation. This is the central, human challenge: to ensure that the wealth drawn from the ground in Balochistan does not simply flow to corporate balance sheets or vanish into the opaque channels of federal distribution, but instead visibly, tangibly improves the lives of the people who have called that ground home for generations. The fruits of these assets must be felt in the classroom, the clinic, and the local market, or they will inevitably sow the seeds of further estrangement.
The path forward is fraught with both geopolitical intrigue and practical necessity. The world’s appetite for the very minerals Pakistan holds is accelerating, driven by the global transition to green energy and digital infrastructure. This places the nation in a position of unexpected leverage, but one that demands a sophisticated and unified strategy. Potential partnerships with a diverse set of nations—from the technical prowess of Canada and Australia to the strategic interests of China and the Gulf states—will be vital. These relationships must be founded not on the old models of extraction, but on genuine technology transfer and the cultivation of local expertise. The goal must be to build a nation of engineers and geologists, not just laborers.
Yet, in this necessary engagement, sovereignty cannot be a bargaining chip. The recent statements from the nation’s military leadership, emphasizing a red line around territorial and economic integrity, underscore that this new chapter will be written with a clear-eyed focus on national interest. The minerals are a national inheritance, and their management is a test of the country’s governance and vision.
The opportunity is undeniably historic. With global prices for key minerals soaring, the moment for Pakistan to convert its geological luck into a foundation for lasting economic security is now. However, it is a moment that demands more than just digging; it requires a national consensus, a relentless fight against corruption, and an unwavering commitment to equity. The ground beneath Pakistan’s feet holds a fortune. The true measure of success will be whether that fortune can be brought to the surface to enrich not just the state, but also every citizen who stands upon it.
(The writer is a former government officer and a senior analyst on national and international affairs, can be reached at inam@metro-morning.com)
