Why do you think the people of FATA in pakistan have not minew or quarried minerals of their region?
Answers
Answer:
Historical Background
The Minerals Section of FATA was initially established in 1972
In the year 1986, Directorate of Industries & Minerals Development was created and this setup continued up till 2001.
Mineral Sector worked as Mineral Directorate w.e.f2001-2003.
In 2003 the Mineral Directorate was renamed as Directorate of Mineral, Industries and Technical Education.
In 2005 the Mineral Sector was detached from other sectors (i.e Industries & Technical Education) in all Federating Units of Pakistan including Khyber Pakhtunkhwa per Mineral Policy 1995 except FATA.
Geological Setup
Tribal area spread over 27220 sq. km out of which about 82% area Mapped geologically.
Sedimentary, igneous and metamorphosed rocks are exposed in the area.
Rocks age ranging from Paleozoic to Cenozoic.
These lithological units are favorable for hosting metallic, non metallic , Energy Minerals and industrial minerals.
Recent studies in Khyber Agency revealed that the sedimentary belt stretching from Khyber to South Waziristan have the potential for occurrences of hydrocarbon.
Strengths and Opportunities in the Sector
KP and FATA are dominated by a mountainous terrain with a great variety of minerals from marble, granite to other metallic minerals such as gold etc.
Marble and Granite: The marble and granite sector has significant potential for growth, as huge reserves of highly valued white marble in Ziarat and Mohmand Agency, with gray colored marble in Bajaur and other attractive colors in Mohmand, Khyber, Bajaur, Orakzai, Kurram and Waziristan; have been identified. In FATA, the marble quarrying/mining industry has provided jobs to an estimated 2,000 persons.
Gems: Despite having tremendous potential for growth, the gemstone sector has not reached its true potential as an industry, specifically in FATA. Some geological findings indicate availability of precious and semi precious stones. In the north, emeralds and tourmalines have been found whereas; garnet and quartz are found in Bajaur and South Waziristan. However these reserves have not been properly identified and exploited.
Copper: In North Waziristan the estimated reserves of 35 million tones have been discovered with confirmed reserves of 8 million tones having average copper content of 0.8%. Exploitation of these resources will employ labor force in thousands in addition to export revenues.
Coal: FATA has abundance of high quality coal deposits. The coal is already being mined at various localities but at a very limited scale by using old and outdated mining techniques. Huge deposits of coal have been identified in Darra Adam Khel (F.R Kohat), Orakzai, Kurram and North Waziristan.
Soapstone: Soapstone is a metamorphic rock rich in magnesium and iron. FATA has huge deposits of soapstone that can be used in local industry as well as exported. Currently the soapstone at Ghandhao is mined and exported to Europe, where the demand for it is on the rise.
Nephrite:This mineral has recently been discovered for the first time in FATA and its group needs to be determined.