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MINERAL RESOURCES Balochistan possesses great unexplored potential of metallic and non-metallic minerals. Presently, the minerals being exploited are: · Coal · Chromite · Barytes · Marble · Sulpher · Fluorite · Quarzite · Magnesite · Limestone · Ebrystone, and · Serpentine
COAL Balochistan coal can cater to the existing and future energy requirement of our country to a great extent. More than 90% of coal is dispatched to other provinces for use in brick kilns. Its reserves are found in
CHROMITE Sizable deposits of this mineral are found at Muslimbagh, district Killa Saifullah. Lasbela, Khuzdar, Kharan and Chaghi districts have chromite reserves. Private sector has been engaged in mining this mineral.
BARYTES The biggest deposit of barytes is located near Khuzdar with a total reserve of over 2.00 million tones. Scientific mining as well as grinding of this mineral started in 1976. Almost the entire production of barites is consumed locally by OGDC and other oil drilling companies.
MARBLE Large commercially exploitable deposits are found throughout district Chaghi, starting from Dalbandin and extending to the borders of Iran. Some deposits are located close to Pak-Afghan border areas namely Zardkan, Siah-Chang, Jhulli, Patkok, Maskichah, Zeh, Chilgazi and Buttak.
Onyx, a dark green marble, found in Chaghi is of superior quality. Onyx of good quality is found in Bolan, Lasbela and Khuzdar districts.
IRON ORE Chaghi, a mineral rich area, possesses nearly 30 million tonnes of iron ore. Geological Survey of Pakistan, in a report, states that there are 1 to 7 meters( averaging about 2 meters) thick hematitic sedimentary ironstone bed of Jurassic age(150 million years old) at the contact of Chiltan Limestone, and Sember formation of Cretaceous age (150-65 million years old) near Johan in Dilband area of Mastung district. The reserves have been tentatively estimated at over 200 million tonnes.
QUARTZITE This is a relatively newly discovered mineral. Its deposits are found in Lasbela district.
LIMESTONE Limestone exists in abundance in different parts of Balochistan. Several hundred meters thick layers of limestone, at places dolomitic, occur in Chiltan Formation of Jurassic age in Quetta and Kalat. Limestone of Cretaceous age, 300 to 50 meters thick, is widely found in Balochistan. Harnai, Sor Range, and Spintangi areas have reserves of limestone.
SULPHOR Sulphor deposits are available at Koh-i-Sultan in Chaghi district. Three main depoit are clustered around the southern half o the extinct volcano, Koh-i-Sultan. The deposits are of fumaralic origin and native sulphor is found in vugs, cracks, and as impregnation in volcanic tuffs. The chief use of sulphor is I the manufacturing of sulphuric acid and explosives.
FOREST'S ROLE IN BALOCHISTAN: Forests particularly help in maintaining favourable and stable conditions needed for sustained agricultural productivity. Trees prevent soil erosion, enhance soil fertility and maintain soil moisture. Deep-reaching tree roots can help mobilize nutrients far below ground level for use by food crops. The other important function which forestry plays in the context of Balochistan province is to enhance and facilitate the percolation of rain and flood water in the soil, thus playing crucial role in the ground water recharge. Livestock
rearing is an important economic activity for the rural masses of the
province. Forests and rangeland throughout the province are the major source
of livestock feed. Lack of proper management of the rangeland resources not
only severely affected the natural resources but also have bad effects on
the health and productivity of the livestock in the province. Proper
management of the range resources by improving the vegetative cover of
highly nutritious and palatable species could only help in improving the
productivity and health of the livestock. Trees
provide shade for livestock, important to their health and productivity in
hot, dry areas. Of growing importance is the role forests play as storehouse
of bio-diversity, potentially very important in future crop breeding and
pests and disease management programs. Moreover, role of forestry in the
preservation of healthy environment and combating pollution is well
researched and documented. Forestry has to play an important role in
pollution control and environmental problems currently being faced by the
province. Forests
also have significant links with inland and marine fisheries. Forests
regulate the volume and fluctuations of stream flows and provide a shaded
riparian environment, favourable for the development of smaller life forms
which fish feeds on. Forests provide wide ranging economic and employment opportunities. In irrigated areas of the province, trees are grown simultaneously with agricultural crops and contribute substantially towards household income through sale of timber and firewood. In addition to these major products, forest flora are traditionally used for number of other minor products including agricultural implements, medicines, and different kinds of fruits and nuts. Provincial
Forest Resources Provincial
forest resources, approximately 2% of the total geographical area of
Balochistan, are confined to coniferous, hill plateau, Reverain Bella,
irrigated plantation and plateau lands. Forest types found in Balochistan
are listed below: i.
Dry temperate forests of Blue pine, chilghoza and Juniper. ii.
Sub tropical dry evergreen oleo forests. iii.
Tropical thorn forests of Kandi, in Sibi, Nasirabad, Bela and Mekran areas. iv.
Tropical desert thorn forest in Kharan and Ghagai areas. v.
Steep slopes and grassland. These
forests are unproductive and hardly meet the local requirement of fuel wood.
Only Ephedra and Mazri are income generating forests, which are being
exploited on commercial basis each year mainly by Ziarat, Loralai, and Uthal
Forests Divisions. Different forest categories with their respective areas
in hectares are as under:
Rangelands
in Balochistan Rangelands in Balochistan are the major concern of almost 80% of rural population of the province. About 94% area in Balochistan is rangelands. Rangelands are producing 10-50% less than their potential mainly because of overgrazing, long past negligence and lack of scientific knowledge. At present, rangelands are estimated to provide 70% forage. Afghan
refugees and their livestock have seriously damaged about 0.23 million acres
of rangelands. Although measures under strict financial constraint have been
carried out, still a lot needs to be done. Watershed
in Balochistan Some
range areas, as well as forests, occupy the principal watershed areas. Arid
climate, scarce water resources and their inefficient use are the limiting
factors for effective watershed development. It has been estimated that
watershed in Balochistan has lost 70% of its absorptive capacity due to lack
of vegetative cover, overgrazing, trampling and accelerated erosion. Karezes
(underground tunnels for perennial flow of water), artisan wells and springs
have either dried up or are yielding decreasingly, reducing scope of
watershed development. Wildlife
in Balochistan Balochistan
is rich in wildlife: the valuable species found are Markhor, Ibex, Orial,
Gazele, black bear, cheetah and chinkara. Moreover, there are seesee, sand
groves, black grey partridges; different species of water fowl, green turtle
and dolphin. Balochistan
provides good habitat to the migratory birds like Hubara Buystard, falcons
and cranes. Based on the various surveys, a number of areas have been
subsequently declared as legally protected as game sanctuaries, national
parks and game reserves. CHILTAN-HAZARGANJI
NATIONAL PARK Chiltan-Hazarganji
National Park, an internationally recognized park, was fenced and
effectively protected to preserve and propagate endangered wildlife species
like Chiltan Markhor. The management plan in this regard has been prepared
(not yet handed over to the Dept.) by WWF-international’s consultants
under sub-project of Balochistan Natural Resources Management project. This
protection and enclosure from grazing has regenerated the vegetative growth
of predominantly grasses and shrubs, in addition to multiplication of wild
animals and birds. GAS PRODUCTION
Locations
Production (mmcft)
Rate (mmbtu)
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