Natural Resources of Pakistan :

Introduction :

• Pakistan is endowed with abundant natural resources. The natural resources of Pakistan contribute significantly to the country's overall economy. It's for commercial consumption or manufacturing. However, to enhance the country's economy and boost growth, appropriate use of natural resources is essential.
• According to official reports, other countries such as China are interested in investing in Pakistan to profit from the country's natural resources. This step is also beneficial to Pakistan because investment in the country increases job opportunities. This leads to employment growth, and the proper use of natural resources also helps to boost the overall economy.
• Natural resources are defined as those that exist independently of human acts. It comprises water, land, atmosphere, sunlight, flora, and much more; nonetheless, it is divided into four categories: energy and mineral resources, water resources, biological resources, and soil resources.
• In Pakistan, massive projects are under construction, with natural resources being skillfully utilized. The China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) is an example of this, as it uses coal, power plants, water, energy, and other resources to construct the project.

 Pakistan; A Blessed Country:

• Pakistan is a blessed land with many natural resources, and the country's location is excellent for it to serve as an economic hub for other nearby countries interested in doing business and utilizing our territory's resources.
• Pakistan is strategically placed between Central Asia, South Asia, and the Middle East, making it an ideal country in terms of location. Furthermore, the land contains important natural resources throughout the country.
• Coal, gold, copper, bauxite, mineral salt, chromite, iron ore, and a variety of other minerals and natural resources are among Pakistan's vast reserves. Pakistan also mines ruby. topaz, and emerald, among other precious and semi-precious minerals.
• Wheat, rice, cotton, sugarcane, fruit, eggs, milk, vegetables, mutton, and cattle meat are among the agricultural items that are also found on the vegetation side of nature.
• Textiles, medicines, food processing, construction materials, paper products, fertilizer, and other industries, according to reports, are the key industries for utilizing natural resources to their maximum potential in a productive way.
  

Mining:

• Mining is an industry or a procedure for extracting minerals or coal from a mine. However, in Pakistan, it is a necessary step in helping the economy grow as a result of natural resources. Pakistan mines coal, copper, salt, gold, chromite, and a variety of other minerals, ores, and gemstones such as emerald and ruby.
• This and other natural power resources also increase imports and exports. Meanwhile, the country's principal exports are rice, textiles, leather goods, carpets, sports goods, and chemicals, among others. Imports of equipment, petroleum, plastic, steel, tea, paper, plastic, iron, and oil, on the other hand, assist the economy flourish.
• At the Saindak, Pakistan possesses substantial copper and gold ore resources. Other substantial concentrations of rock salt can be found in the Potohar Plateau. Pakistan's mineral resources include limestone, gypsum, chromite's, rock salt, silver, iron ore, precious stones, marbles, jewels, tiles, fire clay. sulfur, and silica sand, among other things.

Manufacturing :

• Mining and quarrying make up a modest portion of total GDP and employment. Manufacturing, on the other hand, has a healthy share. The primary industrialization endeavor began when trade between India and Pakistan was suspended in 1949, shortly after the two countries won independence. It began with the processing of raw agricultural commodities for both internal and export consumption.
• This prompted the establishment of cotton textile mills, which currently account for a significant portion of total industry employment. Textiles, sugar. paper. tobacco, and leather sectors also employ a large number of people in the industrial sector.

List of Natural Resources of Pakistan :

Numerous natural resources in Pakistan provide numerous benefits; nevertheless, the following is a list of the most common natural resources present in Pakistan.

1. Coal :

• Coal is one of Pakistan's most important natural resources. Despite being a current player in the energy sector in Pakistan, coal is still a significant portion of the power mix. In the last two years, four coal-fired power plants built under the CPEC have contributed 19 percent of Pakistan's total power generation.
• Pakistan had previously explored coal seams of low to medium quality in Punjab. This resource, on the other hand, is unquestionably advantageous for low sulfur coal, and it has been reported in Baluchistan and near Islamabad. In Pakistan, bituminous and subbituminous coal, as well as lignite coal, are available.
• The country's coal reserves are estimated to be worth 185 billion tonnes. It's also the equivalent of 628 billion barrels of crude oil. This natural resource is extremely important to the economy of the country.

2. Oil and Gas :

• Pakistan has a large natural gas production. The gas field, on the other hand, is likely to persist for another couple of decades. 
• Sui gas, according to reports, is Pakistan's largest field. It accounts for a significant amount of the country's gas production. Daily. 19 million cubic meters were produced. There are also reports that oil and gas reserves exist beneath the desolate mountains of Balochistan and the dunes of Sindh.

3. Water :

• Water is one of nature's greatest gifts. Pakistan is blessed with numerous rivers. As well as oceans that meet throughout the country.
• The fishing sector, on the other hand, is extremely important to Pakistan's economy. The coastline is 814 kilometers long, and the entire fishing resources have an opportunity to expand. Fishing is one of Pakistan's most important sources of revenue.

4. Human Resources :

• Pakistan has a varied range of natural resources. Pakistan's human resources include a population of bright young people as well as a growing urban middle class.
• Culture, wealth, knowledge, and infrastructure are all expected to improve and grow in the next few years. This will undoubtedly make the country proud.

5. Forestry :

• Forests are regarded as a valuable resource of Pakistan. They supply a variety of essential resources for our everyday lives and the production of other things. Forest trees also help to keep the environment clean by giving fresh air.
• Forests cover only around 4% of Pakistan's area, but they are a key source of lumber, food, paper, firewood, medicine, latex, and other products. These are also valuable in discussions on wildlife and ecotourism.

6. Land :

• The land is a natural resource since it can be used for horticulture, agriculture, and other purposes. According to the Source, approximately 28% of Pakistan's total land area is agriculture.
• Pakistan has one of the most extensive irrigation systems in the world. Cotton, rice, wheat, sugarcane, sorghum, maize, millets, oilseeds, pulses, fruits and vegetables, and barley are the most important crops produced in Pakistan. According to the research, it accounts for almost 75 percent of total crop value output.

7. Uranium :

Pakistan has a history of exporting a minor amount of uranium in the past. Pakistan produces a lot of uranium. However, uranium resources in Pakistan are found in both the southern and central parts of the country. such as the Sulaiman Range, Bannu Basin, Dera Ghazi Khan, Kirthar Range, and Issa Khel, Mianwali District.

8. Mineral Salt :

Since 320 BC, the region has been producing salt. The salt mines at Khewra are among the world's oldest and largest. Since 320 BC, salt has been mined in Khewra in a subterranean area of around 110square kilometers (42 sq. mi). The rock salt resources of the Khewra salt mine are believed to amount 220 million tonnes. The mine currently produces 325,000 tonnes of salt per year.

9. Copper and Gold :

 Copper and gold resources from Baluchistan can be found in Reqo Dig. Antofagasta, which owns the Reqo Diq field. plans to produce 170,000 metric tonnes of copper and 300,000 ounces of gold per year at first. The project could produce about 350,000 tonnes of copper and 900,000 ounces of gold each year. Copper deposits can also be found in the Chaghi district's Daht -e- Kuhn and Nokkundi.

10. Iron Ore :

 Nokundi, Chinot, and the largest one in Kalabagh (less than 42 percent quality). Haripur, and other Northern Areas of Pakistan all have iron ore.

11. Gems and other Precious Stones :

A variety of precious stones are mined and polished for both domestic and international markets. Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa is the focal center of this operation. Actinolite, Hessonite, Rodingite, Agate, Idocrase, Rutile, Aquamarine, Jadeite. Ruby. Amazonite, Kunzite, Serpentine, Azurite, Kyanite, Spessartine (garnet), Beryl. Marganite, Spinel, Emerald, Moonstone, Topaz, Epidote, Pargasite, Tourmaline, Garnet (almandine), Peridot These stones are worth more than $200 million in export.

List of Power Resources of Pakistan :

The following is a list of the most common power resources present in Pakistan.

1. Hydro electricity

2. Thermal Electricity

3.Solar Energy

1. Hydroelectricity :

• In Pakistan, nature has supplied a favorable habitat. The environment is better for producing hydroelectricity. Dam construction is feasible in Pakistan's northern and northwestern regions. Hydroelectricity can be used to build steep slopes in rivers and canals. The Ghazi Barotha project on the Indus River is the best example.
• In Pakistan, both the governmental and commercial sectors have plans to enhance hydroelectricity production. Pakistan produces 4963 megawatts of hydroelectric power. Pakistan's rivers Indus, Jhelum, and Chenab have a combined capacity of 30000 MW.

2. Thermal Electricity :

In Pakistan, thermal power stations generate energy from gas, oil, and coal. Thermal power accounts for 49.8% of total electricity production. Pakistan produces 4921 megawatts of thermal power. Pakistan has 13 thermal power plants in operation. The largest station, which generates 1756 MW, is located near Karachi. Multan is home to the second largest station. It produces 260 MW.

3. Solar Energy :

Solar energy is the energy we obtain from the sun. Pakistan's climate is extremely hot and arid. Because Pakistan sits near the Tropic of Cancer, the sun beams are vertical for the majority of the year. These are hot days. As a result, summer in Pakistan lasts longer than winter. This is the most cost-effective energy source. 

Ore deposits:

Ore deposits are like treasure spots in the Earth where valuable minerals are found. They form in different ways. Let's talk about a few:

1. Rock-Melt Deposits: When hot, liquid rock called magma cools down, it leaves behind some valuable minerals like nickel and copper.
2. Hot Water Deposits: Sometimes, hot water travels through cracks in rocks. As it cools, it leaves behind valuable minerals like gold and silver.
3. Sediment Deposits: Minerals can also collect in layers of sedimentary rocks, like sandstone or mudstone. Examples include iron and phosphate.
4. Changed Rock Deposits: When rocks change because of heat and pressure, they can hold valuable minerals like copper and iron.
5. Stream Treasure: Valuable minerals like gold can be found in rivers and beaches, left behind by moving water.
6. Ocean Treasure: Minerals like copper and gold can also be found on the ocean floor where volcanoes release them.
7. Tropical Treasures: In tropical places, certain rocks break down over time, leaving minerals like nickel in the soil.

Conclusion :

Pakistan's natural and mineral resources also contribute to the country's economic growth. The country is still attempting to better utilize all of its resources to gain greater benefits from them.