Pakistan (Commonwealth Union)_ Pakistan’s Indus River, which has played a central role in the region’s history and civilization, has been found to contain substantial gold reserves, potentially worth billions of Pakistani rupees. Stretching over 3,200 kilometers, the Indus River, which originates from the Himalayas and flows through India into Pakistan, is one of the longest rivers in the world. It not only sustains millions of people who rely on its water, but also hides a priceless treasure, gold and other precious minerals. The gold deposits were discovered in the Indus River near the Attock district in the Punjab province. According to a report from the Geological Survey of Pakistan, there are vast reserves of gold that could potentially generate a revenue of 600 billion Pakistani rupees.
These deposits, found in the form of placer gold, are accumulated on the riverbed, especially in areas where the water flow slows down during the winter months. The gold is believed to have been carried over millennia from the northern regions, particularly the Himalayan mountains, by the fast-moving waters of the Indus River. For centuries, the Indus River has served as a conduit, transporting various minerals, including gold particles, from the Himalayas to the plains below. This process of gold accumulation is known as placer deposition. As the water levels decrease during the colder months, local residents, eager to profit from the gold, venture into the river to extract the precious particles that have settled on the riverbed. However, this illegal activity has escalated significantly in recent years, prompting the Pakistani government to take action.
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In an effort to curb unauthorized mining, the government of Pakistan’s Punjab province imposed a ban on the extraction of gold from the river in 2024. Gold demand in the region had led to widespread illegal mining, so Section 144 was invoked to stop it. Authorities are reportedly paying significant attention to the use of heavy machinery to harvest the gold. The government has recognized the potential economic benefit of these gold deposits, with some officials estimating that the value of the gold in Attock alone could be as high as 600 billion Pakistani rupees. Ibrahim Hasan Murad, the mining minister of Punjab, disclosed that the gold spread across an area of 32 kilometers in Attock is estimated to weigh 32.6 metric tons. The discovery has drawn both excitement and concern among local and provincial authorities, with debates arising over how to properly manage and extract the gold.
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Notably, the controversy surrounding the gold reserves deepened when it was revealed that a high-ranking official in Punjab ignored an order from Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz, which led to a standoff over the potential extraction of the gold. While some provincial officials are eager to extract the gold, others are advocating for the exploration of alternative minerals, such as zinc and stone, in the region. This internal dispute has complicated the situation, hindering any decisive action. In addition to the findings in Attock, the government of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province has also conducted its own survey of the Indus River. The report highlights that gold particles are flowing from the Himalayan region through the Indus and Kabul rivers, reaching areas such as Peshawar and the Mardan region. These gold particles, found in various shapes, including flat and round, further reinforce the theory that the source of gold is the remote regions of the Himalayas.
The discovery of such a vast gold reserve brings with it the potential for significant economic development but also poses challenges in terms of environmental protection and resource management. While the Pakistan government aims to harness these valuable resources, the debate continues over the proper handling of the gold deposits in the Indus River, balancing economic growth with sustainable practices. As the situation unfolds, both local communities and the government are grappling with the implications of this discovery. The decision on whether to extract the gold or focus on other minerals like zinc and stone will be pivotal in shaping the future of the region’s mining industry. With billions of rupees at stake, the fate of the Indus River’s hidden treasure remains uncertain.
