December 20, 2006	Wednesday	Ziqa'ad 28, 1427

ISLAMABAD, Dec 19: Minister for Petroleum and Natural Resources Amanullah Khan Jadoon on Tuesday said the government would soon announce a national Mineral Policy to attract more foreign investment in this sector.

He expressed these views while talking to a delegation of Chilean mineral entrepreneurs during his visit to Santiago, says a message received from Chile.

The minister said Pakistan was endowed with vast hydrocarbon and mineral deposits and the government was taking concrete steps for accelerating the pace of exploration activities in the country.He highlighted the salient features of deregulation, liberalisation and privatisation policies being pursued by the government to create competitive environment in the oil, gas and mineral sectors.

Mr Jadoon said that after Saindak project, the Reko Diq copper project in Balochistan would place Pakistan on the world’s copper map.—APP