Islamabad (TDI): Pakistan’s Petroleum Minister, Ali Pervaiz Malik, and British High Commissioner to Pakistan, Jane Marriott, jointly launched a new capacity-building initiative to enhance the country’s geoscientific capabilities.
The program was inaugurated at the Geological Survey of Pakistan (GSP), marking a key milestone in Pakistan-UK collaboration.
The initiative is part of the UK-funded REMIT program and is being delivered in partnership with International Geoscience Services (IGS), a UK-based firm with global experience in supporting geological survey organizations.
Running from April to July 2026, the program focuses on building GSP’s technical capacity through hands-on training aligned with international standards.
Under the program, GSP personnel will receive training in digital geological surveying, geochemical sampling, airborne geophysics, and Geographic Information Systems (GIS).
A key feature is the development of a complete end-to-end digital survey workflow, covering field data collection, laboratory analysis, GIS interpretation, and final geological mapping.
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Speaking at the launch, Jane Marriott highlighted Pakistan’s “extraordinary geological potential,” noting that unlocking it requires reliable, high-quality data generated through modern techniques.
She said the UK’s support would help Pakistan build the skills and systems necessary to attract responsible investment and drive long-term economic growth.
Ali Pervaiz Malik, in his remarks, thanked the British High Commission for its support, emphasizing that strengthening the GSP is critical at a time of global economic uncertainty.
He added that enhancing geological capabilities would help reduce reliance on hydrocarbons while encouraging investment in the mining and minerals sector.
The initiative is expected to equip the GSP with the expertise needed to independently design and deliver future national surveys that meet international, investor-facing standards.
The launch event took place at the Geoscience Advanced Research Laboratories and was attended by senior government officials, including GSP Director General Adnan Alam Awan, along with other key stakeholders.
