EXECUTIVE
SUMMARY
For
the year 2007-2008, a total of Rs. 198.026 million is allocated in the regular
budget and Rs.161.162 million in the PSDP. Operational funds provided in the
regular budget, as in the past few years, are highly inadequate. However, with the available regular budget
the GSP plans to achieve the following technical targets during the current
financial year. The GSP will undertake mapping of about 10, 880 sq. km. area in various parts of the country.
In addition to the geological mapping an area of 1,000 sq. km. will be covered
through geophysical surveys. Mineral
exploration projects include iron ore in Punjab and Balochistan, Lead-Zinc-Barite
investigations in Balochistan and NWFP, limestone studies in Sindh and
copper-gold prospects in Balochistan.
Environmental, urban and hydrogeological studies will be carried out for
Lahore and Islamabad cities. Research
projects will also be undertaken in collaboration with Harvard, Howard and
Michigan universities of U.S.A. Five development
projects (including 2 in energy sector and 3 in mineral sector) will be
executed. The province-wise activities of
regular projects will be as under:-
·
An area of 2,560 sq. km. will be geologically mapped
on 1:50,000 in the area of Lasbela, Zhob and Pashin districts. Besides
geological mapping, detailed study of recently discovered copper deposit
in Lesbela District and exploration modelling of Cu/Au prospects of Chagai District
will also be taken up. Regional gravity and magnetic surveys will be conducted
in Chagai districts.
·
An area of 3,840 sq. km. will be geologically mapped on 1:50,000
scale in Jhelum, Chakwal and Mianwali districts, Punjab. Environmental, urban geological and Geophysical
studies in Lahore area will be taken up.
·
An
area of 2, 560 sq. km. will be geologically mapped on 1:50,000 scale in
Mansehra, Dir and Kohat Districts, NWFP. Evaluation of Iron ore in the Province
will be taken up.
·
An
area of 1280 sq. km. will be geologically mapped on 1:50,000 scale in Northern
area.
·
An area of 640 sq. km. will
be geologically mapped on 1:50,000 scale in Dadu District, Sindh.
Under Development
Programme GSP will execute the following projects:
Ongoing Project
Mineral Sector
· Ground Follow-up of Aeromagnetic Anomalies in Chagai District, Balochistan (2004-2008).
· Accelerated Geological Mapping and Geochemical exploration of the out-crop Area of Pakistan (2005-2008).
· Up gradation/Strengthening of Geosciences Advance Research Laboratories, Geological Survey of Pakistan (2005-10).
Fuel Sector
· Exploration for Coal in Kotli Area, Azad Kashmir (2005-2008).
·
Exploration and
evaluation of Chamalang-Bala Dhaka, Bahlol (District Kohlu Barkhan and Loralai)
and parts of Ghazij Coal Basin in Balochistan (2007-10)
1. INTRODUCTION
Geological
Survey of Pakistan (GSP) is an attached department of the Ministry of Petroleum
and Natural Resources, Government of Pakistan.
It was established, at the time of independence in 1947, with only 5
Muslim geologists of the Geological Survey of India who opted for
Pakistan. It is a national organization
which, as per its charter, is primarily responsible for collection and
dissemination of geological information about the country so that the earth’s
resources could be best exploited and utilized. The geological information is compiled and disseminated in the
form of geological reports and maps. Geological maps provide a bird’s eye view
of the surface (and subsurface) distribution of various types of rocks and
economic minerals that are found in a particular region. These maps are, thus, essential for all
future detailed geological works including, mineral exploration, civil
engineering, soil surveys, and land use and soil conservation projects. Worldwide experience suggests that
geological maps on 1:50,000 scale provide the most useful information and meet
the requirements of most of the demands.
Apart from geological
mapping and general surveys, the department has also to collect and provide
detailed information pertaining to the natural resources of the country mainly
the minerals and groundwater. It
involves:
·
Inventory
of the known mineral resources.
·
Assessment
of the quality and quantity of the known mineral deposits and the groundwater
potential.
·
Intensive
search for the new mineral deposits.
1.1. CHARTER
OF THE GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF PAKISTAN
Government of Pakistan, vide Ministry of Petroleum and
Natural Resources, letter No. GSP‑1 (15)/89, dated 24th
October, 1991, approved the following charter for the Geological Survey of Pakistan:
“The
Geological Survey of Pakistan is responsible for the study of geology of the
country in detail, and to assess its resource potential. It shall
undertake:
i). geological mapping
and geoscientific surveys,
ii). basic and applied
research, and
iii). environmental investigation for an accurate understanding of
the country’s geologic resources and its prudent management.
The
Geological Survey of Pakistan, as such, functions within the framework of its
charter.
1.2. FUNCTIONS AND
ACTIVITIES
1.
Geological
mapping of the country on appropriate scales.
2.
Supplementation
of geological mapping programme with geoscientific studies and research,
geophysical surveys, geochemical investigations and test drilling operations
with a view to synthesize and analyze data on composition, structure, history and
origin of rock strata for use in the exploration, exploitation and
conservation of natural resources like, metallic and industrial minerals and
rocks, fuels and groundwater.
3.
Inventorization
of known resources and exploration and assessment of new finds and discoveries.
4.
Geological
investigations in connection with the construction of heavy civil engineering
projects, soil conservation, watershed management and other environmental and
engineering geological studies including, geothermal energy, land use, and
town planning.
5.
Basic and
applied research in all fields of geological sciences and related disciplines and
sponsoring and promotion of such researches in other sister institutions.
6.
Description
of onshore and offshore geological framework and understanding its formation, evolution
and resource potential.
7.
Study and
evaluation of geological hazards associated with earthquakes, volcanic
activity, waste disposal, landslides, subsidence and other ground failures, and
development of methods for hazard prediction.
8.
Improvement
in the existing mapping techniques and development of new skills for the
collection, analysis, and interpretation of geoscientific data.
9.
Collection,
retrieval and dissemination of information and extension of assistance to
public and private sector organizations in problems and projects of geological
investigations, mineral exploration, and geoscientific research.
10.
Provision
of scientific support and technical advice for legislative, regulatory and
management decisions of the federal, provincial and local governments.
11.
Establishment
of contacts with international research organizations in geosciences and
participation in international geoscientific activities.
12.
Evolution
of earth‑sciences data sets and establishment and maintenance of an effective
geodata base.
13.
Provision
of scientific and technical assistance for the effective use of earth‑science
techniques, products and information.
14.
Undertaking
of geological and other related techno‑economic and strategic studies
within and outside the country.
15.
Publication
of results of the activities of the department in the form of different types
of thematic maps, reports, books, monographs and research papers.
Geological
Survey of Pakistan carries out studies under its regular programme, utilizing
the non-development budget, and under the development programme, utilizing the
PSDP funding.
1.3 GSP’S ROLE UNDER THE NATIONAL MINERAL
POLICY
To expedite the publication of
geological, geophysical and geochemical data and maps
To produce Geological maps of the entire
country on a 1:250,000 scale. Priority
areas to be mapped on 1:50,000 scale
To operate an open file system for the
potential investors
To undertake collaborative projects with
the constituting provinces and the private sector
To strengthen Geodata Centre of Pakistan
for the collection, dissemination, storing and updating of data of the country
as a whole and also to make it available in print and electronic formats
2 ORGANIZATIONAL
STRUCTURE
Geological
Survey of Pakistan is headed by a Director
General (BPS‑21). Its
headquarters is at Quetta where the specialized branches viz. Palaeontology
& Stratigraphy, Regional Geology, geophysics, chemistry, petrology‑mineralogy,
drilling and most of the functional
divisions/directorates, including planning and development, information , administration & accounts,
audit , stores & procurement and workshop etc. are hosted. Some of the functional units, however, have
been regionalized and their offices are established at Peshawar, Islamabad,
Lahore, and Karachi. The four
scientific research zones at Peshawar, Lahore, Karachi and Quetta are
responsible for carrying out geological mapping and mineral investigation and
also for running specialized branches to undertake projects related to the
geology of the area of their control.
The provincial governments and mineral sector agencies are consulted and
their suggestions are accommodated, to the extent possible, while formulating
the annual field programme of the department. The organizational set‑up
is as under:
