QUETTA: Samia Ali Shah, Barrick Gold Company’s Communications Officer has said that production at the Reko Diq copper and gold project is expected to commence by 2028.
Samia Ali Shah said this while addressing a media briefing at a local hotel in provincial capital. She shared key details about the project’s timeline, employment plans, and community engagement efforts.
She informed that the Reko Diq project will create over 25,000 indirect employment opportunities for the local residents of the province.
Samia highlighted that these jobs will not only come through direct hiring but also through contracts with suppliers and service providers associated with the project.
She further said that during the construction phase, around 7,500 to 8,000 temporary jobs will be created. Once the mine becomes operational, around 4,500 permanent positions will be maintained as part of regular operations.
She highlighted that local communities will be made key stakeholders in the project, ensuring their involvement and benefits from its long-term success.
Balochistan graduates who completed international mining training through Barrick Gold’s development program have returned and will play an essential role in the project’s workforce, Samia said.
She reaffirmed the company’s commitment to prioritizing locals in both direct employment and supply chain opportunities, aiming to boost the region’s socio-economic development.
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She concluded that Barrick Gold’s approach is not just about mining resources, but about building capacity and ensuring Balochistan’s people directly benefit from the project’s progress.
