PESHAWAR, Jan 5: Mineral production in the Federally Administered Tribal Areas has risen to 1.2 million tons during last year, according to a government official. He told Dawn Rs118.450 million had been earmarked in the Annual Development Programme 2005-06 to further develop mineral sector in Fata. According to information provided by the official, Fata has huge deposits of copper, manganese, iron ore, lead, barite, soapstone, coal, gypsum, limestone, marble, dolomite, feldspar, quartz, silica sand, emerald and other minerals.

Under the mineral development policy, research studies for oil and gas in Khyber Agency, selection and geo-technical studies of feasible sites for model quarry for marble in Mohmand Agency and establishment of mine labour welfare centre in Orakzai Agency are underway.

Emphasis is being laid on infrastructure uplift in the mine-bearing areas for which Rs174 million has been approved for construction of access roads. Out of this amount, Rs52.269 million will be spent this year.

Infrastructure, especially roads, will make these areas easily accessible for mineral resources’ exploration and development and subsequent commercial benefits will jointly accrue to public and private sectors engaged in joint ventures.

Certain parts of Fata possess huge mineral reserves, especially copper in Waziristan and Mohmand Agency and world class marble in Khyber, Mohmand and Bajaur agencies.

An amount of Rs33.310 million has been earmarked for development of soapstone mines in Kurram Agency, Rs40 million for exploration of precious stones, Rs18.873 million for rescue/safety and labour welfare station Bowa, Orakzai Agency, Rs43.727 million for development of coal mines in Orakzai Agency and Rs60 million for construction of a model quarry for marble in Mohmand Agency.

Under the government’s mineral sector vision based on maximum private sector investment, the NWFP governor’s Fata secretariat Fata has sought collaboration of the Pakistan Science Foundation, Geological Survey of Pakistan, Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission and University of Engineering and Technology, Peshawar, for exploration and development of mineral reserves through technical assistance, cooperation and facilitation of joint ventures and technological transfer arrangements.