LITERALLY STRIKING GOLD!! Pakistan Finds Gold Worth Rs 80,000 Crore In The Indus River

Pakistan has uncovered a treasure trove beneath the flowing waters of the Indus River, with the Geological Survey of Pakistan (GSP) confirming the presence of approximately 32.6 metric tonnes of gold in the Attock district of Punjab province. Valued at an estimated 600 billion Pakistani rupees (around $9.6 billion USD), this placer gold deposit—stretching 32 kilometers from Attock to areas near Tarbela and Mianwali—could mark a turning point for the nation’s economy, which has long grappled with financial strain.

The gold, believed to have been washed down from the Himalayas over millennia, was deposited along the riverbed by the Indus’s swift currents. Punjab’s Minister for Mines and Minerals, Ibrahim Hasan Murad, hailed the discovery as a “game-changer,” announcing plans to harness this resource responsibly. The government has already launched the Attock Placer Gold Project, spearheaded by the National Engineering Services Pakistan (NESPAK) and the Punjab Mines and Minerals Department, aiming to extract the precious metal and bolster national revenue while creating thousands of jobs.

Yet, the path to prosperity is not without obstacles. Illegal mining has surged, particularly during winter when receding water levels expose the riverbed, prompting authorities to impose Section 144 to curb unauthorized extraction. Local communities have long sifted through the sands for gold, a practice now clashing with official efforts to regulate the resource. Bureaucratic delays and technical challenges further complicate the timeline for large-scale mining operations.

Economists see the discovery as a potential lifeline for Pakistan, which faces a looming debt burden and a need for foreign exchange. If managed effectively, the gold could reduce reliance on imports and fund infrastructure development. However, environmental concerns linger, as placer mining risks disrupting the fragile ecosystem of the Indus, a vital lifeline for millions.

As of now, the gold remains largely untapped, a shimmering promise beneath the surface. Whether Pakistan can transform this geological windfall into economic stability will depend on strategic planning, enforcement, and a balance between exploitation and preservation. For a nation at a crossroads, the Indus River’s hidden wealth offers both hope and a test of resolve.