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Goldmine Projects in Balochistan: Why Are Locals Against Canada's Entry?
Goldmine Projects in Balochistan: Why Are Locals Against Canada's Entry?
Sputnik India
Balochistan is a rich land with trillions of dollars’ worth of natural resources, including the Reko Diq and Saindek gold mine projects in the Chaghi district... 02.02.2025, Sputnik India
2025-02-02T20:58+0530
2025-02-02T20:58+0530
2025-02-03T12:45+0530
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Canadian mining giant Barrick Gold plans to mine Reko Diq in Balochistan’s Chagai district, home to some of the world’s largest undeveloped copper and gold deposits.On 25 January, a mass gathering was held at the Dalbandin headquarters of the Chaghi district, which was a strategic move to expose the actual situation of Balochistan. While the world sees these investments as benefiting Pakistan, for the Baloch, it means their land is being sold off. At the same time, the genocide of their people continues, Dr. Sabiha Baloch, a leader of the Baloch Yakjehti Committee (BYC), a human rights activist, and former chairperson of Baloch Students Action Committee (BSAC) told Sputnik.In addition to Canadian Company Barrick Gold, 160 national and international companies have received licenses for mining operations. Trillions of dollars’ worth of minerals have been extracted over the years, yet the people of Balochistan have not benefited in any way. Dr. Sabiha Baloch said the local population still lacks access to education, healthcare, safe drinking water, and electricity.Abdul Qadeer, a researcher associated with Mehrgarh Research Institute and a lecturer at Uthal University, told Sputnik India that Barrick Gold — also known as the Reko Diq Mining Company (RMDC) — is seen as a foreign concern aligned with the interests of powers that do not care about the welfare of the Baloch people in Dalbandin.“Based on my personal observation and communication with graduate students of Dalbandin, the employment opportunities are offered to people who 'compromise', decide to stay silent on exploitative or genocidal policies,” Qadeer said. "There was no place for merit and a red-carpet approach to "discriminatory and exploitative moves" in the Reko Diq project."Arsalan Hameed from Chaghi District, a former central committee member of the Baloch Students’ Organization said Barrick was set to begin extracting Baloch resources without securing approval from the local community — and has failed to meet international mining standards."Locals have raised numerous concerns about the environmental impact and other development initiatives the company is implementing in Chaghi, fearing potential negative consequences for the region,” Hameed stressed.The Baloch people of Chaghi district have long suffered from killing of labors, poverty, deprivation, the fallout from the May 28, 1998, nuclear test, exclusion from local goldmine projects, and the effects of climate change, Noorul Haq, a local from Chaghi, and practicing Lawyer told Sputnik.
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Goldmine Projects in Balochistan: Why Are Locals Against Canada's Entry?
20:58 02.02.2025 (Updated: 12:45 03.02.2025) Balochistan is a rich land with trillions of dollars’ worth of natural resources, including the Reko Diq and Saindek gold mine projects in the Chaghi district. But despite claims of development projects and foreign investments, these resources have only led to further oppression, activist says.
Canadian mining giant Barrick Gold plans to mine Reko Diq in Balochistan’s Chagai district, home to some of the world’s largest undeveloped copper and gold deposits.
On 25 January, a mass gathering was held at the Dalbandin headquarters of the Chaghi district, which was a strategic move to expose the actual situation of Balochistan. While the world sees these investments as benefiting Pakistan, for the Baloch, it means their land is being sold off. At the same time, the genocide of their people continues, Dr. Sabiha Baloch, a leader of the Baloch Yakjehti Committee (BYC), a human rights activist, and former chairperson of Baloch Students Action Committee (BSAC) told Sputnik.
In addition to
Canadian Company Barrick Gold, 160 national and international companies have received licenses for mining operations.
Trillions of dollars’ worth of minerals have been extracted over the years, yet the people of Balochistan have not benefited in any way. Dr. Sabiha Baloch said the local population still lacks access to education, healthcare, safe drinking water, and electricity.
“However, Baloch have been already facing implications of nuclear test since 1998 in the form of climate change, maternal and child mortality rate,” She said. “I have personally visited an area near Ras Koh where about 25-30 mud houses remain. Most of the women in the village complain of infertility, and nearly 80% of the children suffer from cleft lips. Almost every family has lost a member to cancer. The land has lost its agricultural fertility, and the water is undrinkable due to high concentrations of heavy minerals.”
Abdul Qadeer, a researcher associated with Mehrgarh Research Institute and a lecturer at Uthal University, told
Sputnik India that
Barrick Gold — also known as the
Reko Diq Mining Company (RMDC) — is seen as a foreign concern aligned with the interests of powers that do not care about the welfare of the Baloch people in Dalbandin.
“Based on my personal observation and communication with graduate students of Dalbandin, the employment opportunities are offered to people who 'compromise', decide to stay silent on exploitative or genocidal policies,” Qadeer said. "There was no place for merit and a red-carpet approach to "discriminatory and exploitative moves" in the
Reko Diq project."
"There is a common collective conscience among the people in Dalbandin that Reko diq will only strengthen the powers that are bent to plunder the resources of the local Baloch population,” Qadeer warned.
Arsalan Hameed from Chaghi District, a former central committee member of the Baloch Students’ Organization said Barrick was set to begin extracting Baloch resources without securing approval from the local community — and has failed to meet international mining standards.
"Locals have raised numerous concerns about the environmental impact and other development initiatives the company is implementing in Chaghi, fearing potential negative consequences for the region,” Hameed stressed.
The Baloch people of Chaghi district have long suffered from killing of labors, poverty, deprivation, the fallout from the May 28, 1998, nuclear test, exclusion from local goldmine projects, and the effects of climate change, Noorul Haq, a local from Chaghi, and practicing Lawyer told Sputnik.
