Pakistan has found huge reserves of gold in the Indus River, potentially worth as much as ₹80,000 crore, a Dawn News report of March 3 said. It was reported in Attock, one of the districts of Punjab province, in a survey commissioned by the government.

The discovery has generated plans to mine the gold, potentially providing an economic push to the financially strapped country.

The project will be executed by National Engineering Services Pakistan (NESPAK), a government-owned organization, and the Mines and Minerals Department Punjab. Specialists think this might be a great achievement for the mining sector of Pakistan.

As per Zargham Eshaq Khan, Managing Director of NESPAK, the project has been titled: “Consultancy Services for Preparing Bidding Documents and Transaction Advisory Services for Nine Placer Gold Blocks along River Indus in District Attock.”

How did the gold arrive there?

Geologists consider that gold deposits from the Himalayas of India are carried by the Indus River. Gradually, as the river flows, the gold accumulates in the form of placer gold or nuggets in the Attock region

Due to the constant flow of the river, the gold here is either flat or rounded in shape. The Indus River Valley is also rich in minerals, such as gold and other precious metals.

The country's gold reserves stood at $5.43 billion as of December 2024, as per an Express Tribune report that used State Bank of Pakistan figures. The newly found reserves can potentially add to Pakistan's overall gold reserves.

Can this gold save Pakistan's economy?

Pakistan is going through tough financial times, with low foreign exchange reserves and a depleting currency. If this mining project proves successful, it will be an economic boon for the country.

According to experts, if Pakistan is able to extract and use this gold effectively, then it has the potential to make its economy strong and improve its position among the world nations. But the coming months will be vital in deciding if this discovery materializes into an economic bailout or simply an unused asset.

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