Islamabad:
It is likely that the World Bank will provide technical assistance to develop an integrated infrastructure roadmap and a socioeconomic development plan for Reko DIQ and other mining sites in Baluchistan, sources told Express PAkGazette on Wednesday.
They said that a World Bank representative has consented to the Technical Assistance Plan at a recent meeting of the Technical Assistance Committee (NLTAC) that is not a loan held in the Ministry of Economic Affairs.
The NLTAC discussed a proposal of the oil division of the Ministry of Energy to seek technical support from the World Bank for the development of an integrated infrastructure route and a socio -economic development plan for the Reko DIQ and other mining sites in Baluchistan.
The meeting, chaired by the Secretary of Economic Affairs, received an informative session from the Petroleum Secretary, who emphasized the need to incorporate socioeconomic elevation through the development of the community and infrastructure, while safeguarding environmental aspects in current mining operations.
The Pakistan mining industry is currently in an incipient stage, with very few projects from medium to large scale. Pakistan has recently developed a harmonized legal and regulatory framework aligned with international best practices, according to a source.
“It is necessary to address the environmental, social and economic aspects in all phases of mining operations, from exploration and extraction to the processing and closure of the site, for which the proposed technical assistance of the World Bank is sought, the sources said, citing from the informative session.
The World Bank representative, said the source, reported that the proposed technical assistance would be organized by the World Bank to its own side, without any financial responsibility by the Pakistan government.
However, after the completion of the plans under the NLTA, any subsequent development project could be considered under the support of the World Bank or through the private sector, after prescribed government procedures.
The World Bank representative agreed to the proposal of a Ministry of Planning to hire a consulting company and internal discussions on the matter to determine the real requirements of experts. The oil secretary said the conceptual document was in the completion stage.
The Committee agreed to send the request for the oil division to the World Bank for the required technical assistance. It was also agreed that the oil division would share the conceptual document with terms of reference for consultants that would be involved in the World Bank.
