Pakistan Times!

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani has said that the mega project for the exploration of gold, copper and other allied minerals in Chaghi, launched jointly by Antofagasta of Chile, Barrick Gold of Canada and the government of Balochistan, will bring about transformation in Balochistan and assured that the government will extend all necessary assistance for the timely completion of this project.

The Prime Minister said this while talking to a delegation headed by Mr. Jean Paul Luksic, Chairman Antofagasta, a Chilean joint venture company, who called on him on Friday. The Prime Minister asked the delegation to ensure that maximum jobs are given to the people of Balochistan and arrangements be made for imparting requisite skills training to them so that they can avail of the job opportunities. The Prime Minister said that Pakistan will consider the signing of a Free Trade Agreement with Chile.

The Prime Minister said that a delegation of the government of Pakistan will soon visit Chile to explore new avenues of cooperation and collaboration. Mr. Luksic informed the Prime Minister that the project involves an investment of US$ 1-1.5 billion which is likely to eventually reach US$ 5 billion. On commissioning, he said, the annual copper export would be over $ 1 billion. The meeting was also attended by Secretary Petroleum and senior government officials.-SANA

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