'All rights of Chiniot-Rajoa iron ore project are with government'

A spokesman of Mines and Minerals Department Punjab has said all rights and titles of Chiniot - Rajoa iron ore project are with the government of Punjab and nothing is entrusted to anyone except the consultancy services. According to an official handout, the spokesman explained that the Punjab government has planned development of its iron ore resources in a scientific manner and approved a roadmap with the objective to establish a steel mill in Punjab.
The spokesman further said that as a first step hydrological and geotechnical studies are being conducted to evaluate the deposits of iron ore. The spokesman said that for this purpose six boreholes in Chiniot and 25 boreholes in Rajoa are planned and as per international standards of quality study, four foreign consulting firms have been pre-qualified for the task through advertisement in the press.
The spokesman further said that on the basis of competitive technical/financial proposals, one of the firms would be finalised. The work is likely to be awarded in February 2011 and the study time for Chiniot is three months and for Rajoa is one year.
The spokesman said that as soon as the extent, quality and quantity of Chiniot/Rajoa iron ore deposits are confirmed, the government of Punjab would proceed as per law for private public partnership. The entire process is transparent both for investment in public and private sector.