ISLAMABAD: Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz has revealed that substantial deposits of pure gold are believed to exist in the sand and gravel of Punjab’s rivers, with what she described as credible evidence emerging and a formal survey underway to assess the potential reserves and determine their quantity.
Addressing the opening session of the two-day Pakistan Minerals Investment Forum 2026, Maryam Nawaz said that Punjab, the land of five rivers, was blessed with vast natural resources and enormous economic potential. She stressed the need to make effective use of these resources to promote national development and prosperity.
She informed participants that, besides gold, various parts of the province also contain significant reserves of coal, granite and both pink and regular varieties of salt, which are known in international markets.
The chief minister further pointed out that river sand and gravel may contain not only gold but also several other rare metals and valuable minerals.
Inviting local and international investors to explore opportunities in Punjab’s mineral sector, Maryam Nawaz said the provincial government was committed to transforming natural resources into shared economic prosperity.
She added that the government had opened avenues for international cooperation and commercial partnerships. Investors were also being offered land at highly competitive rates to establish new industries and businesses across the province.
The initiative, she said, aims to attract investment, develop the mining sector and unlock Punjab’s untapped mineral potential.
