Unearthing Pakistan’s natural resources

[Omar1984]

Pakistan’s wealth lies beneath soil: Samar

ISLAMABAD - Riphah International University (RIU) held its 6th Convocation Saturday wherein 1,000 graduates and postgraduates of the university were awarded degrees.

Renowned scientist Dr Samar Mubarikmand was the chief guest. Nearly, 1000 graduates and postgraduates of the university in various disciplines were awarded degrees at the convocation. They belong to Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, Pharmaceutical Sciences, Management Sciences, Engineering and Applied Sciences and Computer Sciences.

Twenty-two Zulfiqar Gold Medals and 18 Chancellor’s Gold Medals were awarded to the graduates and postgraduates for obtaining top positions in the examinations and securing distinction for their best performance in the academic field in various disciplines.
The chief guest Dr Samar Mubarakmand, in his address, said in a world imminently facing global recession we may find that the ultimate yardstick for the survival of populations will be the availability of sufficient food, clothing, cheap electricity, clean drinking water and raw materials to run the internal economies competitively. This is absolutely the minimum requirement. In case of excess production other countries too can benefit from the export of surplus food and other commodities.

He said ninety five percent of the wealth of Pakistan lie under its soil in the form of huge deposits of coal, copper, gold silver, iron ore, lead, zinc, chromites and bauxite. Large gas fields and oil deposits may be lying under ground awaiting discovery.

He stated that in order to break the shackles of present poverty we have to divert our brilliant human resource to the fruitful exploitation of our immense mineral wealth. He urged the private sector to invest monetarily in these ventures while the intellectual input has to be forthcoming from the universities and research institutions of the country. “With a single minded focus on this vision there is no reason why the economy of the nation will not take a giant leap forward”, he added.

The Pro-Chancellor Hassan M. Khan, in his speech, said ‘as you know, last year the worst floods in our history devastated Pakistan. So it was decided not to have convocation last year. Instead Riphah International University decided to build 40 houses for flood affectees near Charsaddah. Alhamdolillah, we have almost completed that project and the houses shall be handed over by the end of this month’.

The Vice Chancellor Prof. Dr. Anis Ahmad, in his speech, said Riphah International University is concerned about future of the country and Muslim Ummah and the entire humanity. Our concern for ethical values and their integration in curriculum, teaching methodology and evaluation process is based on our design to have the holistic personality of our graduates and balanced and meaningful approach in life. Zulfiqar Gold Medals were awarded to Dr. Arshad Nawaz Malik, Dr. Hafiza Tahira Tasnim, Dr. Imran Rafiq, Dr. Ashan Javed, Amina Nadir, Junaid Shahzad, Zainab Rafiq Khan, Sara Naushad, Mariyah Jamal Solaija, Najm Us Sahar, Shagufta Naz, Ahmad Hussain Tareq, Ghulam Mustafa, Muhammad Safdar, Muhammad Majeed Adeel, Asma Gul, Saira Ashfaq, Amnah Shafqat, Samia Kiran, Hira Qamar, Saima Safdar, Misbah Shoukat.

Chancellor’s Gold Medals were awarded to Dr. Muhammad Saleh, Dr. Muhammad Fahad Siddique, Dr. Danyal Ahmad, Dr. Muhammad Yasir Saeed, Dr. Muhammad Salman Bashir, Amina Nadir, , Junaid Shahzad, Zainab Rafiq Khan, Mariyah Jamal Solaija, Najm Us Sahar, Shagufta Naz, Mohsin Ashraf, Rabia Akram, Rabia Zafar, Fatim Tu Zahra, Hira Qamar, Malik Muhammad Waqas Amin, Misbah Shoukat.



Pakistan’s wealth lies beneath soil: Samar | Pakistan | News | Newspaper | Daily | English | Online

 

[ChineseTiger1986]

Congratulation, make a good use of these precious natural resources to further improve your economy.

 

[Omar1984]

95% of Pakistani wealth lying under its soil


Pakistan is very fortunate and blessed with natural resources, we are sitting on the wealth of huge deposits of coal, copper, gold, silver, iron ore, lead, zinc, chromites and bauxite. Large gas fields and oil deposits may be lying under ground awaiting discovery, said renowned scientist, Dr. Samar Mubarakmand.

Addressing the 6th convocation of the Riphah International University at the Jinnah Convention Centre here Saturday, he said: In order to break the shackles of present financial crunch we have to divert our brilliant human resource to the fruitful exploitation of our immense mineral wealth. With a single-minded focus on this vision there is no reason why the economy of Pakistan will not take a giant leap forward.”

Nearly, 1,000 graduates and postgraduates of the university in various disciplines were awarded degrees at the convocation. They belonged to the Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, Pharmaceutical Sciences, Management Sciences, Engineering and Applied Sciences and Computer Sciences.

Dr. Samar urged the private sector to invest monetarily in these ventures while the intellectual input has to be forthcoming from the universities and research institutions of Pakistan. “The irony here is that the government hire expertise from abroad, which are sometimes correct and sometimes incorrect bearing huge burden on our resources. It’s high time that the technologists from the country should come forth to discover our mineral and energy resources of the country, he added.

Dr. Samar urged the young engineering graduates to explore the field and not just sit in their offices. He said that they should be working on the field, as they are doing in the field and trying to fix gasifiers in Thar with a team of dedicated senior experts and young engineers to generate electricity from coalmines. God has given us wealth but it is a challenge for us and we need to explore it and turn it into energy so that we could come out of energy crisis.

Pro-Chancellor Hassan M. Khan said that the graduates are about to embark on their own extraordinary journeys and create their own life adventures. Vice Chancellor Professor Dr Anis Ahmad, said education is linked with the economic development.

Zulfiqar Gold Medals were awarded to Dr. Arshad Nawaz Malik, Post-Professional Doctor of Physical Therapy (Session Spring 2008 - Fall 2009), Dr Hafiza Tahira Tasnim, Post-Professional Doctor of Physical Therapy (Session Fall 2008 - Spring 2010), Dr. Imran Rafiq, Post-Professional Doctor of Physical Therapy (Session Spring 2009 - Fall 2010), Dr Ashan Javed, Post-Professional Doctor of Physical Therapy (Session Fall 2009 - Spring 2011), Amina Nadir, Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery (Session 2005-2010), Junaid Shahzad, Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery (Session 2006-2011), Zainab Rafiq Khan, Bachelor of Dental Surgery (Session 2006 - 2010), Sara Naushad, Bachelor of Dental Surgery (Session 2007 - 2011), Mariyah Jamal Solaija, Doctor of Pharmacy (Session Spring 2005-Fall 2009), Najm Us Sahar, Doctor of Pharmacy (Session Spring 2006-Fall 2010), Shagufta Naz, Doctor of Pharmacy (Session Fall 2006- Spring 2011), Ahmad Hussain Tareq, Doctor of Pharmacy (Session Fall 2005-Spring 2010), Ghulam Mustafa, Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering (Session Fall 2006-Spring 2010), Muhammad Safdar, Master of Business Administration (Session Fall 2008-Spring 2010), Muhammad Majeed Adeel, Master of Business Administration (Session Spring 2008 - Fall 2009), Asma Gul, Bachelor of Business Administration (Session Spring 2006-Fall 2009), Saira Ashfaq, Bachelor of Business Administration (Session Fall 2006-Spring 2010), Amnah Shafqat, Bachelor of Business Administration (Session Spring 2007-Fall 2010), Samia Kiran, Bachelor of Business Administration (Session Fall 2007 - Spring 2011), Hira Qamar, Master of Science in Computer Science (Session Spring 2009-Fall 2010), Saima Safdar, Bachelor of Science in Software Engineering (Session Spring 2006-Fall 2009) and Misbah Shoukat, Master of Science in Mathematics (Session Fall 2009-Spring 2011) Chancellor’s Gold Medals were awarded to Dr. Muhammad Saleh, Master of Science in Pain Medicine (Session 2009-2010), Dr. Muhammad Fahad Siddique, Post-Professional Doctor of Physical Therapy (Session Spring 2008 - Fall 2009), Dr. Danyal Ahmad, Post-Professional Doctor of Physical Therapy (Session Fall 2008 - Spring 2010), Dr. Muhammad Yasir Saeed, Post-Professional Doctor of Physical Therapy (Session Spring 2009 - Fall 2010), Dr. Muhammad Salman Bashir, Post-Professional Doctor of Physical Therapy (Session Fall 2009 - Spring 2011), Amina Nadir, Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery (Session 2005-2010), Junaid Shahzad, Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery (Session 2006-2011), Zainab Rafiq Khan, Bachelor of Dental Surgery (Session 2006-2010), Mariyah Jamal Solaija, Doctor of Pharmacy (Session Spring 2005-Fall 2009), Najm Us Sahar, Doctor of Pharmacy (Session Spring 2006-Fall 2010), Shagufta Naz, Doctor of Pharmacy (Session Fall 2006- Spring 2011), Mohsin Ashraf, Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering (Session Fall 2006-Spring 2010), Rabia Akram, Master of Business Administration (Session Spring 2008-Fall 2009), Rabia Zafar, Bachelor of Business Administration (Session Spring 2006-Fall 2009), Fatim Tu Zahra, Bachelor of Business Administration (Session Spring 2007-Fall 2010), Hira Qamar, Master of Science in Computer Science (Session Spring 2009-Fall 2010), Malik Muhammad Waqas Amin, Bachelor of Science in Software Engineering (Spring 2006-Fall 2009) and Misbah Shoukat, Master of Science in Mathematics (Session Fall 2009-Spring 2011). Riphah International University is chartered by the Federal Government.



95% of Pakistani wealth lying under its soil

 

[salvage]

let us all dig our homes ...who knows we might be having worlds largest uranium reserves right under our beds.

 

[Fracker]

let us all dig our homes ...who knows we might be having worlds largest uranium reserves right under our beds.

Interestingly if you live in Peshawar and surrounding areas, this is true.

 

[longbrained]

We should start a world class mining industry digging out trillions of dollars of minerals sitting under our feet. Build a powerful economy with high satisfaction for people and eradicate poverty. Only a prosperous Pakistan is a powerful Pakistan. Stop the aid that is destroying our independence. Start mining the resources.

 

[niaz]

I can’t say about any other resource but after having spent 42 years in the Oil & Gas sector I know a little about it. It is in the nature of my compatriots to feel great thru wishful thinking and without giving thought to the ground realities.

According to latest estimates, facts about oil & gas are:

Crude oil requirement is 13-million tons per year or about 95-million barrels year. Production is about 65,000 barrels per day or 24-million barrels per year.

Any reservoir less than 1-billion barrels of oil is considered small. To give you a realistic idea of Pakistani reservoirs, all the reservoirs combined amount to proven reserves of only 300-million barrels. Remember, recoverable reserves are less than proven reserves. All new discoveries help but not that much. This means that we have enough reserves only for about 3-years refinery runs; in addition we import huge quantities of refined products. Based on 2010 estimates Pakistan imported about 350,000 barrels per day or about 130-million barrels of crude and products.

0ffshore oil exploration started as early as 1961, however offshore drilling is lot more expensive. 11 exploratory wells came up with nothing. Currently there are 4 more blocks under study and we will have to wait and see if anything is found.

It is estimated that POTENTIALLY there are 27-billion barrels of oil, but most of it is yet to be discovered and possibly never as it will need large foreign investment which has dried up.

Natural gas situation is a bit better. Largest reservoir at Sui goes back to the 1950’s and no new large reservoir (> than 10-trillion CFT) has since been discovered. Total proven reserves are about 32- trillion cubic feet with production at about 4-billion cubic feet per day.

To give an idea in terms of barrels; 5.5 bcf equals 1-million barrels of oil. In other words proven reserves natural gas in Pakistan are about 5.8 billion barrels with production at about 727,000 barrels per day of oil equivalent. We should forget about tight gas, technology to successfully exploit tight gas is still in infancy and it would a very long time before Pakistan can make use of it.

Our natural gas production would have been sufficient for domestic and industrial requirements and there was no shortage until 2006. Oil prices crossed $60 per bbl. by mid-2005 resulting in increase in domestic gasoline and diesel prices. Consequently, from 2007 conversions to CNG in Pakistan accelerated. Pakistan is currently one of the largest consumers of CNG as motor fuel. While this has saved precious foreign exchange, it has caused severe shortage of gas adversely affecting industrial production and exports.

Based on 2010 estimate Pakistan was short of 300 - million cubic feet per day. Recently I have read somewhere that during 2011-2012 Winter shortage will increase to 700-million CFT per day. When you consider that Iran-Pakistan gas pipeline will have an initial capacity of about 750-million CFT per day; it appears that gas shortage is likely to continue even after IP pipeline (if ever) gets completed.

In the meantime we are lagging behind the world in the exploiting our agriculture resource. Pakistan and Mexico have similar climate, however Pakistan produces about 2.4 tons per hectare and Mexico 3.9 tons per hectare. France on the other hand produces 7.2 tons per hectare. Even Indian Punjab yield at about 3 tons per hectare is better than ours. Don’t you think it would be in greater national interest to give priority to the agriculture research and improve our yield per hectare thereby reducing dependency on agriculture imports not forgetting that we are short of about 4-million bales of cotton per year!

What I have tried to illustrate is that the impression that Pakistan is full of natural resources and we in current mess only because of the incompetent rulers is only partially true. Pakistan has limited natural resources and with population growing at 2.1% per annum; Malthusian prediction is coming true.

We lack funds and technical expertise to exploit what we have and even if we could, our resources are insufficient to meet our requirement; certainly not enough to compensate for the additional demand generation because of increase in population. More than anything, as a nation we suffer from “qaht ur rajjal” or a severe drought of manpower resource.

We were prepared to eat grass for the sake of nuclear bomb. Where is that spirit now?
We must learn to live without electricity and air-conditioning and to live within our means. Most of all we should stop day dreaming with having false expectation on the promise of future abundant natural resources, this is not based upon realism.

One resource we have in abundance is the human resource. There should be a paradigm shift and utmost priority given towards improving the ‘human resource’ thru education. This is only way we can produce a generation of Pakistanis worthy of standing up to anyone in knowledge and technology. Then and only then we would be able to look the world in the eye and show two fingers to whosoever tries to bully us.