Answering a question, they said the ministry would spend Rs 554.291 million, under the Public Sector Development Programme (PSDP 2017-18), to execute four ongoing and two new projects to step up exploration activities of natural resources for achieving self-reliance in the energy sector. An amount of Rs 415.807 has been earmarked to acquire four drilling rigs and their accessories for the Geological Survey of Pakistan. While Rs 37.977 million would be spent on appraisal of newly discovered coal resources in Badin and its adjoining areas of Southern Sindh.
The funds amounting to Rs 8.992 million would be utilized in exploration and evaluation of metallic and minerals in Bela and Uthal areas of district Lasbella, Balochistan. Similarly, Rs 3.492 million have been reserved for exploration of Tertiary Coal in the Central Salt Range of Punjab.
Copyright News Network International, 2017