Pakistan: Richest Country in Natural Resources. See How Rich is Pakistan in Natural Resources

Pakistan is Rich in Natural Resources

There is no denying the fact that Pakistan is one of the richest countries in terms of natural resources and its immense geo-strategic potential. The country's abundant wealth of resources including that of energy, agriculture, minerals, population, and geography needs no explanation, but unlike the developed countries, these have not been properly utilised due to poor management. This dismal situation is caused due to several flaws which have led to poor governance of country since its inception except some brief periods of economic prosperity. Prevalent political rivalry and instability, worsening law and order situation and rampant corruption have led to resource development impasse.

A broader overview of geographic position of Pakistan reveals that it is located in South Asia and has 650 miles of coastline on the Arabian Sea and Gulf of Oman. The west is bordered by Afghanistan and Iran. India is to the east and China in the far northeast. The country is strategically located between South Asia, Central Asia, and the Middle East. Our country is bestowed with some of the best soil resources, for instance, natural gas, oil, hydro power potential, coal, iron, copper, salt, and limestone and so on.
Our farmers produce wheat, cotton, rice, sugarcane, eggs, fruit and vegetables. We have large cattle farms which produce meat and milk in abundance. Primary industry includes textiles, food processing, pharmaceuticals, construction materials, fertilizer, and paper products. Major exports comprise textile products, rice, leather goods, sports goods, carpets, rugs, and chemicals. Pakistan imports petroleum, machinery, plastic, edible oil, iron, steel, tea, and paper.

Coal reserves are estimated at 175 billion tons. This would equate to 618 billion barrels of crude oil. When compared to oil reserves this is more than twice the amount of the top four countries. Natural gas production is at a high level in Pakistan. Estimated reserves are 885.3 billion cubic meters (as of January 2009). Gas fields are expected to last for another 20 years. The Sui gas field is the largest, accounting for 26% of Pakistan's gas production. Daily production is 19 million cubic meters a day. Under the barren mountains of Balochistan and hot sands of Sindh, there is unlimited amount of oil and gas reserves not touched yet. And still further, we have fertile lands of Punjab, ready to feed a population twice as big as we are now, the best irrigation system (waiting for more water reservoirs to enrich it), and the best quality cotton and rice. Balochistan is a mountainous desert area, consisting of 3.5 lakh sq. kms. It borders Iran, Afghanistan and its Southern Boundary is the Arabian Sea with strategically important port of Gwadar on the Makran Coast, commanding approach to the Strait of Hormuz. Its total population is 7.5 million. Balochistan occupies 43.6 percent of Pakistan's total area and is least populated. Gwadar is an important district of Balochistan, having 600 Kilometres long border. Until 1958, it had been a part of the State of Oman. On December 1958, Pakistan bought it with an amount of 550 million Rupees. It was suggested as a suitable site for port in 1964 and thus in 2002, the construction of the port was initiated with the help of China. The Gwadar Port, being the third largest port of the world, is situated at the doorway of the Persian Gulf (180 nautical miles from the Strait of Hormuz through which 40% of World's Oil passes) and at the largest trade route of the world. It is due to this fact that makes it geo-strategically more important to the world powers.

Rickodek, the part of Chagi (Tehsil of Balochistan), means “Hillock of Gold. Pakistan and International media has highlighted a new discussion on 'Rickodek'. It is the world's 4th largest deposit of gold and copper. It has been discovered that the mountains of Balochistan are filled up with much costly reservoirs of mineral. Nevertheless, it has also been proved that the gold and copper reserves of about $260 billion are buried under the Rickodek. But it is very unfortunate that Pakistan is dependent upon foreign companies for exploring, mining, surveying and refining of our natural wealth. Balochistan has been divided among Pakistan, Iran and Afghanistan. It has been overlooked since the times of the British Rulers. It is that part of Pakistan that consists of different linguistic and ethnic groups Pakistani leadership must focus on exploration of natural resources and their scientific management. Properly managed natural resources can play a vital role in national growth. Extensive geological survey is required to discover the resource potential.