GUANGZHOU: Chinese company Guangdong Handar and Pakistan’s Sanjrani Mining Company (SMC) have inked a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to deepen cooperation on mineral extraction and processing in the resource-rich province of Balochistan.
The agreement, signed in a ceremony in Guangzhou, will see the establishment of a new joint venture, tentatively named the Pak-Handar Mining Services and Management Company. This entity is designed to offer comprehensive mining services, invest directly in resource extraction projects, and drive the modernization of mineral processing in Pakistan’s southwest region. The partnership aims to leverage the distinct strengths of both companies: Guangdong Handar will contribute its advanced technical expertise and management support, while SMC will utilize its extensive local network and existing assets.
The MoU was formally signed by Muhammad Sadiq Sanjrani, the former Chairman of the Pakistani Senate and current Chairman of SMC, and Liang Fa, the Rotating General Manager of Guangdong Handar. SMC, which is headquartered in Balochistan, holds significant assets in copper, coal, marble, and onyx, and brings a proven track record of local resource development to the partnership.
This collaboration is a direct reflection of the Pakistani government’s ongoing strategy to attract global investment for the modernization of its mining industry. The initiative aligns closely with the broader framework of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) and the Belt and Road Initiative, signalling a fresh wave of Sino-Pakistani industrial cooperation focused on unlocking the economic potential of Balochistan’s vast mineral reserves.
Meanwhile Senior politician and former senator Nawabzada Haji Mir Lashkari Khan Raisani has intensified his campaign against the current Mines and Minerals Act, sending formal letters to key political figures and industry stakeholders across Balochistan.
The letters were dispatched to Balochistan Governor Sheikh Jafar Khan Mandokhel, National Democratic Movement (NDM) provincial president Ahmed Jan Khan, and Coal Mines Owners Association president Mir Behroz Reiki. This follows Raisani’s earlier communications with opposition leaders including Mir Yunus Aziz Zehri, Maulana Abdul Wasi, and Sardar Akhtar Jan Mengal.
