The Punjab government has confirmed the discovery of significant gold reserves in Attock, a city located near Pakistan’s capital, Islamabad.
According to a report by Pak Observer on Wednesday, a recent survey at the confluence of the Kabul and Indus rivers verified the presence of gold deposits, a confirmation that took a year to achieve.
After the Geological Survey of Pakistan, the Punjab government enlisted the services of Nespak to further verify the reserves. With confirmation from all parties, a high-level committee from the Punjab government is preparing to brief Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz about the findings.
Reports suggest that the Punjab government plans to hold an international auction for the extraction rights of these gold reserves. The discovery was first brought to light by former caretaker minister Ibrahim Hassan Murad, who claimed that Attock holds massive gold deposits worth an estimated Rs800 billion.
This discovery offers a potential lifeline for a country struggling with economic challenges like inflation and unemployment. The gold reserves, estimated at 28 million tolas, have a market value of approximately $287 million.
In response to reports of locals illegally extracting gold, the government has imposed Section 144 in the region to prevent unauthorized mining. Locals have been collecting gold particles from the Indus River, particularly during the winter months when water levels decrease.
