QUETTA: The Reko Diq Mining Company (RDMC) has selected 18 graduates from Balochistan for a two-year on-job training programme, the company said in a statement.

The cohort, selected as part of the company’s International Graduate Develop­ment Program (IGP), will be trained at the mines operated by Barrick — RMDC’s parent company — in Argentina and Zambia.

Welcoming graduates at a ceremony in Karachi, Barrick CEO Mark Bristow said the programme aimed to “engage young graduates” from Balochistan and equip them with the necessary skills for successful careers in the mining industry.

“I would urge you to embrace this opportunity to learn, collaborate and shape the future of the Reko Diq project, your province and the country.”

For the programme’s second cohort in 2024, the company received over 3,000 applicants. The 18 selected graduates hailed from different districts in Balochistan, including Panjgur, Gwadar, Quetta, Loralai, Khuzdar, Noshki, Musa Khel, Qila Saifullah, Zhob, and Chagai district where Reko Diq is working on a mining operation.

The graduates hold degrees in various fields, including Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Geological Engineering, Civil Engineering, Enviro­n­mental Sciences, Mining Engineering, and Geology.

“This hands-on experience is designed to equip them with practical skills and insights into world-class mining operations,” the statement said.

Their participation in the programme not only helps to address the regional skills gap but also promotes local empowerment and economic development.

“Barrick’s philosophy emphasises the importance of creating shared value for local communities,” the statement said, adding that the company aimed to invest in local talent for “a lasting impact in the regions where it operates”.

Published in Dawn, October 13th, 2024