Karachi: Gold reserves valued at an estimated USD 636 billion have reportedly been identified in the soil of Tarbela Dam, according to Hanif Gohar, Chairman of Air Karachi and former Senior Vice President of the Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FPCCI).
Speaking at the Karachi Press Club on Monday, Gohar said the findings have been formally presented to the Chief of Army Staff, who responded positively to the briefing.
He explained that divers collected soil samples from inside the dam, which were later analyzed in a laboratory to determine their gold content. Based on the analysis, the total estimated value of gold in the dam’s soil was calculated at around USD 636 billion, a figure Gohar claimed could be enough to pay off Pakistan’s national debt.
Gohar said he has offered WAPDA the opportunity to undertake the extraction project independently. However, if not, his company is ready to invest, extract the gold, and hand it over to the state. He added that discussions have already been held with dredging experts in Holland, along with partners in Amsterdam and Canada, to prepare for potential execution.
“If the government gives us the green light, we are ready to execute this project,” Gohar said.
Separately, Gohar announced that Air Karachi will begin domestic flight operations across Pakistan from March 23, deploying three to five Airbus aircraft, with plans to start international flights after one year. He also revealed plans to develop Hyderabad’s first four-star hotel on a five-acre site, while emphasizing the need for growth in Pakistan’s construction sector to address the national budget deficit.
Samra Zulfiqar, a real estate analyst at Zameen.com, is passionate about finding projects that offer buyers the best returns. Her keen insights spotlight the market’s most promising opportunities.
