Pakistan

Pakistan has a rich history of mining stretching back thousands of years, with records showing that mining operations were well-established even during the early Indus Valley Civilization. Over the centuries, various minerals have been mined in Pakistan, including precious metals, semi-precious stones, and industrial minerals. Gold and copper mines in Balochistan province are among the earliest known mining operations in Pakistan, dating back to the 8th century BC.

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In the modern era, mining activities in Pakistan have largely been centered on coal, with the country having significant deposits of this fossil fuel throughout its territory. The discovery of coal in the country coincided with the rise of the British colonial empire, and the British established several coal mining companies in the region. Today, Pakistan has large-scale coal mines in the Thar Desert, which are estimated to hold more than 175 billion tons of coal reserves. However, the mining sector in Pakistan has also faced challenges, including poor infrastructure, inadequate government policies, and security issues in some areas.