QUETTA, Dec 6: The Luni and Marri tribes of Balochistan have signed an agreement for resuming coal mining activities in Chamalang. The agreement was signed by Sardar Asmatullah Luni and Mir Hazar Khan Bejarani Marri on behalf of their tribes at a ceremony here on Wednesday.
Minster of State for Petroleum Mir Naseer Mengal, provincial Finance Minister Syed Ehsan Shah, Shaikh Jaffar Khan Mandokhel MPA and former governor Sardar Gul Mohammed Jogezai signed the agreement as witnesses.
Governor Owais Ahmed Ghani, Chief Minister Jam Mir Mohammad Yousuf and senior military officials were present on the occasion.
Discovered 35 years ago, Chamalang’s coal reserves are among the largest in the world. However, they have not been exploited for about 33 year due to a dispute between the Luni and Marri tribes over their ownership. A large number of people have lost their lives in fighting between the two tribes.
According to officials, the coal reserves in Chamalang are worth Rs200 billion. The site is estimated to produce Rs100 million worth of coal a day, thereby handing an annual earning of Rs1.24 to provincial and district governments.
The resumption of extraction activities will also create 40,000 jobs.Speaking on the occasion, the governor and the chief minister said the agreement would prove a milestone in the development of Balochistan and strengthen the economy of the province.
“The government is committed to the development of Balochistan and would not tolerate any hurdle in this regard,” said Governor Ghani.
"Enmity, fighting and bloodshed can never resolve any problems, but are only bound to cause destruction and backwardness," he said.
He said since taking oath as governor three years ago, he focussed on the resolution of tribal disputes “because they are a big impediment to the development of the province.”
