A remarkable discovery has been made at Tarbela, where gold reserves valued at around $636 billion have been identified in the dam’s soil. The announcement was made by 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 that 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 Tarbela Dam, which were later analyzed in a laboratory to confirm the presence of gold.
According to Gohar, the analysis showed significant gold content, and when calculated on a large scale, the total value could reach $636 billion. He claimed this amount is enough to pay off Pakistan’s entire national debt.
Gohar added that he had offered the Water and Power Development Authority (WAPDA) the chance to carry out the project themselves. However, if WAPDA declines, his company is ready to invest, extract the gold, and hand it over to the government. He said that discussions have already been held with dredging experts in Holland, along with business partners in Amsterdam and Canada. “If the government gives us the green signal, we can start the project immediately,” he stated.
In addition to his statement about Tarbela, Gohar announced that Air Karachi will begin domestic flight operations across Pakistan from March 23. The airline will start with three to five Airbus aircraft and plans to expand to international routes within a year.
Gohar also revealed plans to build Hyderabad’s first four-star hotel on a five-acre site. He emphasized that economic recovery depends on growth in the construction sector, warning that Karachi’s business community is currently operating “on the back foot.”
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