Amid the deteriorating law and order situation in Balochistan, the govern-ment has approved funds for the security of the multi-billion-dollar Reko Diq gold and copper project.
The funds are intended to ensure the smooth opera-tion of the Reko Diq project.
In a recent meeting, the Economic Coordination Cornmittee (ECC) approved Rs1.79 billion funds for the security of the Reko Diq project.
The Ministry of Interior and Narcotics Control stated that the Frontier Corps Balochistan (South), a federal civil armed force, had been involved in border control, internal security, and maintaining law and order within its jurisdic-tion. Additionally, the force was tasked with apprehend ing illegal immigrants and REKO DIQ FROM carrying out counter-ter-rorism operations against miscreants and anti-state elements.
A summary was submit ted to the ECC through the Finance Division on January 14, 2025, seeking approval for a technical supplemen tary grant (TSC) of Rs1.792 billion to cover security expenses for the Reko Diq
project. This request was based on the Security Services Framework Agreement (SSFA) between Reko Diq Mining Company (RDMC) and the Covernment of Pakistan, along with the MoU signed between RDMC and Frontier Corps
Balochistan (South). Ministry of Interior. During
The Finance Division approved an allocation of only Rs286.987 million. However, during its meet ing on February 3, 2025, the ECC deferred the summary and instructed the Interior Division, Finance Division, Petroleum Division, and Frontier Corps Balochistan (South) to reconcile the ac-tual arnount needed for the technical supplementary grant. The committee also emphasized ensuring trans parency in expenditures be-fore resubmitting the case, In response to this direc-tive, a meeting was con vened on February 6, 2025, under the chairmanship of the interior secretary at the
the discussion, the Finance Division’s representative agreed in principle to sup port the request, provided it was clarified that the pay ment received from RDMC under the “support allow ance” was not meant for the salaries or allowances of Frontier Corps personnel The Ministry of Interior and Narcotics Control further stated that Headquarters Frontier Corps Balochistan (South)
mission. The recurring charges , paid by RDMC do not cover the salaries of Frontier Corps personnel deployed for the security of the Reko Diq project.
Turbat, had clarified the issue. According to the Security Services Framework Agreement (SSFA) and the MoU signed between the Government of Pakistan, Frontier Corps,
and RDMC, the Licensee (RDMC) provided finan cial support to the Frontier Corps under the term “sup port allowance” to cover specific costs and expenses that would otherwise be incurred in fulfilling the
, The approved funds will be disbursed through a TSC into a designated DDO ECC. cost centre named “Reko Diq Project Frontier Corps Balochistan (South)”, All recurring and non-re-curring expenses for project
security will be managed received from RDMC for through this dedicated cost security charges. This ap centre. The existing budget of Headquarters Frontier Corps Balochistan (South) will not be utilized for ex-penditures related to Reko Diq project security.
The Finance Division was requested to approve a TSC of Rs1.792 billion against the payment received from RDMC to ensure the smooth execution of the Reko Diq project. The Finance Division endorsed the pro-posal for submission to the
proval is essential to en-sure the smooth execution of the Reko Diq project while maintaining the security of foreign person-nel. The funds, allocated under Demand Noo62 for the Combined Civil Armed Forces, will support Frontier Corps Balochistan (South) in meeting its operational and security-related needs. The ECC reviewed the summary submitted by the Ministry of Interior and Narcotics Control for the. approval of TSC of Rs1.792 billion to cover security charges for the Reko Diq project. After consideration,
The Ministry of Interior and Narcotics Control re quested the ECC to approve the TSC of Rs1.792 billion, sourced from the payment the proposal was approved.
