Ombudsman orders to expedite Raw Iron Excavation Project

Lahore: Ombudsman Punjab Javed Mahmood, has ordered Secretary Mines and Minerals Punjab to expedite the initial work on the project of excavation of raw iron from Chiniot and Faisalabad areas and submit a detailed report to Ombudsman Office in this regard, as early as possible. He regretted that raw iron was discovered in 1969 in the areas of Chiniot and Faisalabad but we are still in initial stages to excavate it. Pakistan is facing shortage of iron and it is dire need of the hour to excavate minerals and get maximum advantage of the same.

Ombudsman Punjab issued orders on the application of a citizen of Jaranwala, Muhammad Ghafoor, who pointed out that he was reading in newspapers since long about discovery of huge quantity of raw iron in the areas of Chiniot city, Chiniot-Faisalabad Road and Chak Jhumra-Chiniot Road but provincial government has no resources and means to excavate it despite of acute shortage of iron in the country.

If provincial government is unable to excavate, then it should seek help from federal government for lending this work to any country or well reputed firm through a transparent process of bidding, the applicant prayed. Ombudsman Punjab directed Advisor Legal Affair, Abdus Salam Khawar, to probe the issue who called Mines and Mineral Department for a report. Director Mines and Minerals informed that there were huge reserves of raw iron in the area and Mines and Minerals Department was working on project with well reputed international and national companies, strictly following the laws of Federal Government.

The project is aiming at for drilling, geological research work and identification of quantity and quality of the land as well as raw iron. As many as six companies have been pre qualified for this purpose and they will been provided necessary information and documents to participate in bidding, which is the next stage of the process. Ombudsman Punjab ordered Secretary Mines and Minerals Punjab to expedite the initial work on the project of excavation of raw iron from Chiniot and Faisalabad areas and submit a report to Ombudsman Office in this regard, as early as possible.