QUETTA, March 7: The Balochistan government has issued over 900 licences for exploration and exploitation of 39 minerals, and was extending all possible assistance and cooperation in this regard.

This was stated during a meeting on Wednesday. The meeting, chaired by the governor Justice (Retd) Amirul Mulk Mengal, reviewed the implementation of the National Mineral Policy in Balochistan.

The meeting was informed that under the policy a separate department of mineral and mine is being established in Balochistan.

Chinese MCC Company would soon start working on Saindak copper project with an investment of $9 million while an agreement was signed for implementation of Dekodak copper project in Chagai district of Balochistan.

The provincial government would spend Rs13 million for providing infrastructure and construction roads in the mining areas of the province. The government has allocated Rs4.5 million in the current financial year’s development budget for the development of mineral deposits in Loralai, Kohlu, Zhob, border town Chaman and Qila Abdullah.

The Provincial Secretary Industry, Mineral and Labour Syed Arshad Ali told the meeting that government has fixed the target of Rs. 72.5 million as mineral royalty for 2001-2002. He said that the government, in this account up to January 2002, had received Rs40 million.