Around 400 million tonnes of iron ore reserves have been discovered in Rajwa (Chiniot) where steel mills project would be initiated on the pattern of Pakistan Steel Mills, Karachi.
Punjab Mines and Minerals Minister Muhammad Sibtain Khan disclosed this while addressing a press conference about one-year performance of his department here on Tuesday.
The Minister said that six projects of exploration of salt, iron and coal ores have been developed last year.
"The projects include preparation of feasibility report of iron ores, research of coal reserves in Mianwali, exploration of coal reserves at Makarwal and salt at central salt range, exploration of salt at Mianwali and Khushab and research of iron ores at Jhang.
These projects have been approved while survey has been conducted for the exploration of fire clay and bentonite at Mianwali and Khushab," he added.
According to him, the department has earned a revenue of Rs 380 million while rescue and safety station have been set up to protect workers from different incidents.
A warehouse of mine safety equipment was being set up at Katas (Chakwal) where modern preventive equipment would be provided to the workers on reasonable rates. New rescue stations would also be set up at Khushab and Dandot (Chakwal).
He informed the newsmen that 1.47 million tonnes construction material have been supplied to Ghazi Barotha Hydro Project during last year and Punjab Mineral Development Corporation (PUNJMIN) have collected a revenue of Rs 143 million through sale of minerals.
It has also collected Rs 50 million payable by Pakistan Steel Mills and other industrial units, he added.
Khan said that Mines Labour Welfare Organisation has been given under the control of Mines Department from Labour Department. He said that the department has collected Rs 27 million under the head of excise duty during the last year, which would be increased to Rs 32.5 million.
He said that around Rs 17 million had been spent on mines labour welfare schemes, Rs 7.7 million had been paid for mines incidents, 9026 mines were inspected and 862 mines were leased out during last year.
"The projects like construction of mines labour colonies at Dandot and Khushab, setting up of TB Center at Chua Saidan Shah, construction of mines labour welfare girls high school at Dandot, provision of five potable water schemes and establishment of new hospital at Mianwali, were also undertaken during the last one year," he added.
He said that they encourage value addition products made from salt rock, and salt lamps were popular in Europe where two containers salt lamps were exported daily to that region.
"Privatisation of PUNJMIN was under consideration and yet to be decided, which was the part of the mines policy formulated in 1995. However, since the PUNJMIN was running in profit and working smoothly, it would not be privatised at a stroke of pen, and a summary in this regard has been sent to the Punjab Chief Minister," he added.
Punjab Mines Secretary Imtiaz Cheema, MD PUNJMIN Arshad Bhatti, DG Mines Mian Abdus Sattar and other senior officers were also present.