Lowari Tunnel to help tap mineral resources in Chitral

Report Zahiruddin, Chitral

The completion of the much-awaited Lowari rail tunnel will also lead to exploitation of the mineral resources of Chitral district, which are present on an immense scale, a source in the mineral exploration department told this correspondent here on Friday.
He said that the high cost of transportation of the raw material from the mining sites in the remote areas of the district restrict the exploitation of the resources. The source said that the intra-district roads could be improved only after the completion of the tunnel.
He said that there were rich deposits of many precious minerals like gold, silver, iron, tin and vanadium, but its extraction involves huge expenditure due to the high transportation costs.
The source said that Sarhad Development Authority had exploited only a small fraction of some ordinary minerals like antimony in Krinj village near Chitral city and Patsan valley.
He said that there were so many sites of fine quality of marble in various parts of the district out of which some had been leased out to individuals for extraction.
The source said that keeping in view the large amount and rare quality of marble in the district, especially in the Lotkoh valley, the government had decided to establish a marble city in the district, which was at its final stage.
He said that antimony was present in large quantity in the district in Kushum, Melp and Awiret Gol areas. The source said that the quantity of magnetite ore had been estimated at 7.3 million tonnes at Damel Nisar, Koghuzi and Gahiret villages and its transportation in ore form renders it much costlier.
He said that in the Munoorgol area of Garum Chashma valley, gemstones like aquamarine and topaz were found, while dolomite, galena and pyrite had vast deposits in Madashil area of the same valley.
The source said that in Lotkoh and Terich valley, arsenic occurs in large quantity and was known for its superb quality.
In Pakhturi Oveer and Golen, vast deposits of soapstone and quartz veins containing lead-zinc ore are present, he said. The source said that the exploration of the mineral deposits situated in the pastures jeopardize and disturb the biodiversity and it was one of the obstacles in exploitation of the mineral resources.
However, he said, that by taking extra care and special measures, the exploration process could be carried out without disturbing the ecosystem. The source said that survey of the mineral deposits in the district had been carried out by the British rulers and then by the Geological Survey of Pakistan, but due to its hard topography and remoteness, no work could ever be initiated on exploration fearing its high cost.
He hoped that with the completion of the under construction Lowari rail tunnel, mineral exploration activities could be launched which would have a positive impact on the economy of the area leading to poverty alleviation.