960402

Mineral sector projects

Provinces utilized only

18.7pc of allocated

funds during last fiscal

RECORDER REPORT

LAHORE: Punjab, Sindh, NWFP and Balochistan could utilize only 18.7 percent of allocated funds in the mineral sector projects (excluding fuel minerals) during the last financial year.

According to facts and figures now available from official sources, a total expenditure of Rs. 7.436 million was reported utilized in the mineral sector in the provinces against budgetary allocation of Rs. 39.7 million during the period under report.

Giving the province-wise financial utilization against the respective allocations and description of major projects, the sources said that an allocation of Rs. 2.250 million was made for the execution of a new mineral project namely "Exploration and Evaluation of Iron Ore in Kirana Hills district Sargodha" in Punjab province which was targetted to achieve geological and geo-physical exploration and drilling by the Punjab Mineral Development Corporation.

Against the budgetary allocation of Rs. 2.250 million, nil utilization has been reported because the project was not executed during the year under review.

In Sindh, an expenditure of Rs. 1.040 million against an allocation of Rs. 1.54 million was incurred during the period under report showing an achievement of 67.5 percent.

The projects included detailed evaluation cum development studies on dolomite, gypsum (Naigai), coal (Ranikot), China clay, fire clay, silic sand, gemstones, marble, granite and mining feasibility of road construction material and identification process of pozzolona was undertaken in districts of Dadu and Tharparkar.

Sarhad Development Authority in NWFP incurred an expenditure of Rs.3.545 million against an allocation of Rs. 33.220 million showing a very disappointing and dismal utilization of 10.7 percent during 1994-95, the sources pointedly stated.

The major projects executed by the authority during this period were Regional Exploration for precious and base metals in districts Dir, Swat and Bunair in Malakand Division utilizing Rs. 1.100 million, Regional Exploration for gold and base metals in districts Kohistan, Mansehra and Abbottabad in Hazara Division through utilization of Rs. 1.135 million and regional exploration for gold and base metals in Chitral district by utilizing Rs. 1.310 million.

However, Balochistan showed better utilization of 106 percent by incurring an expenditure of Rs. 2.851 million against an allocation of Rs.2.690 million during the year under review.

The projects included exploration of minerals in vacuum areas of Balochistan, executed by the Directorate of Mineral Development showing 100 percent utilization. Balochistan Development Authority executed "BDA-BHPM of Australia Joint Venture Project" for gold exploration in Chagai district utilizing Rs. 0.905 million against an allocation of Rs. 0.744 million exhibiting 121.6 percent achievements in physical terms.