ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has directed authorities to ensure foolproof security for workers of the Reko Diq gold and copper mining project and for the logistics and transport from the project`s site to Gwadar port.

Mr Sharif issued the directive while chairing ameeting on the Reko Dig project in Lahore, the PM Office said in a statement on Sunday.

A delegation from the Canadian mining company working on the project, Barrick Gold, led by its CEO Mark Bristow, participated in the meeting via a video link.

The prime minister said consultations with all stakeholders regarding the project at the official level should be held and all the obstacles should be removed.

He said planning should be initiated to improve the communication infrastructure, especially railway lines, to utilise the mineralsof Balochistan. He said work to upgrade roads to connect the Reko Dig project with Gwadar port should be completed as soon as possible.

Wherever new roads were being constructed, the pace of construction should be increased, he added.

The premier said a strategy should be formed to determine the feasibility of a rail and road network from Reko Dig to Gwadar port.

He stressed that the railway line project from Reko Dig to Gwadar would make access to the port short and easy, and the distance would also be less than from Bin Qasim port.

The new railway linewould benefit the mineralrich district of Chagai and the mining industry would expand, he said and sought a detailed briefing next week on the Reko Dig road and rail connectivity project.

He also instructed that all hurdles should be removed at the official level for early completion of the environment and social impact assessment regarding the Reko Dig project.

The meeting`s participants were informed that the feasibility of the Reko Dig project would be completed by December this year.

Every month, 6,000 containers would be transported from the Reko Dig project tothe port. The concentrate pipeline of the project would be the second-longest slurry pipeline in the world.

Besides, the mining company would build the link road from Reko Dig to the N-40 National Highway.

The meeting was told that the 103-kilometre Nolcandi to Mashkhel road, which would connect Reko Dig to the Gwadar port, was 58 per cent complete.

The meeting was attended by Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb, Petroleum Minister Musadik Malik, Planning Commission`s Deputy Chairman Muhammad Jehanzeb and high-level officials.