THE discovery of iron in Chiniot was announced over 20 years ago but forgotten.

Massive iron ore reserves in Kalabagh were confirmed in the 1950s, and Krupps of Germany offered in 1956 to establish steel mills. Subsequently, Salzgitter of Germany made 5,000-ton high-quality steel from 15,000 ton Kalabagh iron ore in Germany to confirm suitability of iron ore and offered in 1967 to set up a steel mill. Over 80pc minerals required by steel mills are available in Kalabagh.

Pakistan Steel submitted PC-II in November 1990 to start work on this project but to no avail. Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif ordered to start work in 1999 but it was forgotten after the 1999 coup.

All relevant records of the Kalabagh Steel Mills Project and the Nauokkaudi Iron Ore Project were transferred from PIDC to Pakistan Steel Mills Corporation in the 1970s. The corporation was tasked to manage Pakistan Steel and develop the steel sector elsewhere. This was also forgotten.

I appeal to the prime minister to revive Nokkundi iron ore and Kalabagh steel mills projects to meet our increasing steel needs.

M. Akram Niazi

Rawalpindi

Published in Dawn March 5th , 2015

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