PESHAWAR (Khyber Mail): The National Centre of Excellence in Geology (NCEG) Peshawar successfully concluded the 4th International Conference on Sustainable Utilization of Natural Resources today after two days of productive academic discussions and presentations. The event was graced by the Provincial Minister for Higher Education, Mr. Meena Khan, who served as the Chief Guest for the closing ceremony.
During his speech at the concluding session, Minister Meena Khan emphasized the government’s priority to develop and harness the mineral sector and natural resources within the province. He stated, “Pakistan, and specifically Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, are rich in natural resources. Our province boasts significant deposits of coal, nephrite, gypsum, and copper.”
The Minister revealed that the provincial government had streamlined 18 exploration sites for gold along the Kabul River. “These efforts have already resulted in the province earning 4.5 billion rupees annually from just four of these sites,” he shared. Minister Khan also assured that the remaining exploration sites would soon be regularized to optimize the exploitation of these resources. He highlighted that the government was in the process of regulating lease agreements for mineral sites across the province and would withdraw lease licenses from lessees who failed to initiate work within two years of receiving their lease agreement.
In his remarks, the Minister emphasized the critical importance of adding value to the province’s rich natural resources. “Sustainable mining and value addition will contribute to the long-term economic growth and prosperity of the province,” he added.
Minister Khan also lauded the efforts of Prof. Dr. Liaqat Ali, Director of the National Centre of Excellence in Geology, for organizing such a fruitful and research-driven conference. He expressed gratitude for the knowledge shared during the conference and its potential to contribute to the sustainable use of natural resources.
Earlier, Prof. Dr. Liaqat Ali provided a welcome address where he highlighted the Centre’s ongoing research and academic activities. He shared that the Centre is collaborating with various national and international partners on explorations and research to discover the abundant natural resources in both Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Pakistan as a whole.
Dr. Amjad Ali, Director of the SPARC Wing at SUPARCO, elaborated on the support provided by SUPARCO in the field of research and technological development. He informed attendees that SUPARCO had signed MoUs with NCEG for research on lunar soil samples, fostering greater collaboration between the two organizations in the future.
Prof. Dr. Abdul Mateen of Pak-Austria FACHHOCHSCHULE Institute of Applied Sciences and Technology called for the establishment of a common facilitation center for industrialists in the natural resources mining sector, which would help streamline operations and improve productivity.
Prof. Dr. Muhammad Naeem Qazi, Vice Chancellor of the University of Peshawar, shared valuable insights from the Holy Quran, where research and inquiry are encouraged. He praised the efforts of NCEG in organizing the 4th International Conference, emphasizing the importance of academic research in fostering sustainable development. Dr. Abraham Jalbout, CEO of Auxilium Tucson Arizona USA, presented a talk online on repurposing tailings using metallurgical processes.
One of the highlights of the closing ceremony was the keynote presentation by Prof. Dr. Rujun Chen of Central South University, China, who shed light on advanced techniques in mineral exploration, particularly through the use of spread spectrum induced polarization.
In recognition of the hard work and contributions of the keynote speakers and conference organizers, Minister Meena Khan presented shields to the distinguished guests, including Prof. Dr. Rujun Chen and the team from NCEG.
The two-day conference not only provided a platform for sharing the latest developments in geological research but also reinforced the significance of responsible and sustainable utilization of the natural resources present in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and beyond.