The recent legislation on the issue of gold reserves (Reko Diq), located in Chagai District of Baluchistan, has made two parties of the coalition government very angry and these parties, JUI and BNP, have threatened to quit the government. Both the party are big political parties of Baluchistan. The JUI and BNP have raised the objection that despite having a clear stake and public base in the province, they have not been taken into confidence on this most important project of public and national interest in the province.
Reko Diq, the project of national importance has been under severe controversy since 2013, due to which the province and the country are still deprived from the benefits of this great project which is a big misfortune for the nation and the country.
A decade ago, an agreement was signed with two foreign companies to mine gold from these deposits, these companies started work on the project and spent about $220 million, but later work on this project was stopped due to objections by some circles on some parts of the agreement. And the end the Supreme Court of Pakistan dismissed this agreement.
On this, the companies working on the project moved to the International Court of Justice (ICJ) against the decision of the Supreme Court of Pakistan. ICJ’s verdict came against Pakistan and a heavy fine was imposed on it.
As the matter went global, difficulties for Pakistan increased, upon which Pakistan agreed to an out-of-court settlement with these companies, and finally a new contract was signed with these companies with certain conditions.
A few days ago, the federal cabinet had enacted legislation to protect this new agreement. Overall, the government of Baluchistan has expressed its satisfaction on the new agreement, however, the objection of the coalition parties, which have roots in Baluchistan, cannot be ignored. It is not right not to involve them in an important decision related to Baluchistan.
In the great interest of the nation and the public, it is very important that the project should be carried forward after taking all stakeholders on board, otherwise, it is fear that the project would again fall prey to controversies and disputes. And the dream of national prosperity and progress, associated with this project, would never come true.
