Gold reserves estimated at $636 billion have been discovered in Tarbela, a finding that could significantly impact Pakistan’s economy. The revelation came from Hanif Gohar, Chairman of Air Karachi and former Senior Vice President of the Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FPCCI), during a discussion at the Karachi Press Club on Monday.
Gohar said the reserves were large enough to clear Pakistan’s foreign debt, adding that the matter had been presented to the Special Investment Facilitation Council (SIFC) and the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) governor. He noted that contact had already been made with Australian and Canadian drilling companies to begin exploration.
Read More: Rawalpindi Unveils New Traffic Rules and Fines for Motorcyclists
“As soon as directives are received from the Prime Minister, the process of extracting gold from Tarbela’s soil will begin,” Gohar stated.
Speaking about Air Karachi, Gohar announced that the airline’s domestic operations would begin on March 23, 2026, with an initial fleet of three to five Airbus aircraft. He added that international flights would start a year after successful domestic operations.
Gohar also shared that Hyderabad’s first four-star hotel is under construction on five acres of land. He emphasized that Pakistan must develop its construction sector to reduce its budget deficit, noting that projects in Karachi persist despite systemic inefficiencies.
