By: Babar Yousufzai
I have long believed in the untapped potential of our land rich not just in culture and heritage, but in the very minerals that run through its soil. Nowhere is this more evident than in the vast promise of the Reko Diq project.
After years of uncertainty, legal battles, and foreign pressures, Reko Diq finally stands as a symbol of resilience and opportunity not just for Pakistan, but especially for the people of Balochistan.
The Reko Diq project, nestled in the Chagai district of Balochistan, is not just another mining venture. It is one of the world’s largest undeveloped copper-gold projects, with an estimated resource base of $350 billion yes, billion comprising gold, silver, and copper. For a province that has long remained on the margins of national development, this project carries the weight of transformation.
From the very beginning, powerful international lobbies and adversarial states had their eyes on Reko Diq, not with hopes of its success, but with intentions to stall and suffocate it.
There was resistance from quarters that never wanted Pakistan especially Balochistan to rise economically through its own resources. These forces used every tool available, from misinformation to international arbitration, to delay the project and sow seeds of doubt among our people.
In addition, the tide turned when the Government of Balochistan, backed by the federal government, took a bold and united stand. We began engaging with credible international stakeholders and pushed forward with legal and diplomatic resolve.
Additionally, we won a decisive case in the International Court of Justice. This legal victory not only removed a massive hurdle but also restored our sovereign right to develop Reko Diq for the benefit of our nation.
Today, Barrick Gold, a leading American mining firm is at the forefront of this project. For the first time in decades, Balochistan has been brought to the center of a mega-project as an equal partner.
The provincial government now holds a share that matches the federal government’s stake a fact that cannot be overstated in terms of political and economic empowerment.
This equal partnership gives us leverage, but more importantly, it gives hope to the people of Balochistan.
Too often, we’ve heard promises of development, only to watch decisions being made from Islamabad or foreign boardrooms. Reko Diq changes that dynamic. From this point forward, every ounce of copper mined, every gram of gold extracted, will carry with it the potential to improve local lives. Schools, hospitals, roads, and clean water these are not distant dreams anymore, they are now within reach.
I strongly believe that the most important beneficiaries of Reko Diq must be the people who have lived on this land for generations. The local communities from Dalbandin to Nok Kundi — should not only be prioritized in employment but trained, educated, and empowered to become stakeholders in this development. If jobs emerge from the mines tomorrow, it is our youth, our engineers, and our laborers who must be the first to benefit. No one understands this terrain better than the people who call it home.
Reko Diq is not just a mining project. It is a test case. If managed correctly, it can become a blueprint for how Pakistan and Balochistan specifically can harness natural wealth to uplift its people. It can be a model of how to balance foreign partnerships with national interest, and how to build a sustainable future grounded in justice and equality.
I see a province that no longer depends on charity or federal handouts, but stands on its own, proud and self-sufficient.
Reko Diq is not the end of the road. It is the beginning of a new journey one that must be walked together, with integrity, vision, and a deep commitment to the people we serve.
Also Read: PM Shehbaz orders rail link to Reko Diq by 2028
The gold under our soil is precious but not more precious than the people who walk upon it.
