ISLAMABAD: Federal Minister for Petroleum and Natural Resources Amanullah Khan Jadoon on Monday said that application of state of the art-technology was must for identifying and exploring new mineral deposits in the country.
He expressed these views while addressing over a high level meeting to review the mineral sector’s goals here on Monday. Minister of State for Petroleum and Natural Resources Mir Muhammad Naseer Mangal and Secretary Petroleum Ahmad Waqar also attended the meeting.
The Minister said that the country was endowed with vast deposits of coal, copper, lead Zinc and other precious metallic and non-metallic potential.
He underlined the need to accelerate the pace of mineral exploration activities aimed at increasing its share in the growth of national economy.
Jadoon said that the Geological Survey of Pakistan (GSP) should gear up its activities for updating geological mapping and seismic data as early as possible that could provide geological information about new mineral deposits and its quality.
DG, GSP Talib Hussain Mirza in his detailed presentation informed the meeting that 50 per cent task of geological mapping had been carried out and 48,000 sq.km. areas for mapping and 18,000 sq.km. for geo-chemical exploration were to be covered under accelerated geological project.
He said that availability of geological maps and related data of mineral potential would attract investment in the country.
The DG said that evaluation of iron and associated base metals in Punjab and NWFP, exploration of massive sulphides in Uthal and Lasbella districts and tertiary coal in central salt range in Punjab were in progress.
He said that efforts were underway for airborne geo-physical survey for identification of mineral potential areas of Pakistan. | 
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