Pakistan has discovered vast gold reserves in the Indus River, valued at approximately ₹80,000 crore, offering a potential economic boost to the cash-strapped nation.

Key Highlights of the Discovery

• Survey and Findings: The discovery was made in Punjab’s Attock district through a government-commissioned survey conducted by NESPAK and the Punjab Mines and Minerals Department of Pakistan.
• Gold Source and Accumulation: Geologists suggest the Indus River carries gold deposits from the Himalayas in India, accumulating as placer gold in Pakistan due to downstream travel.

About Indus River

• The Indus River, also known as Sindhu, starts from the glaciers near the Kailash Mountain range in Tibet.
• It flows through India and Pakistan, playing a key role in the region’s geography and culture. With its tributaries, it nourishes vast areas, including Leh in India and Karachi in Pakistan.
• From ‘Sindhu’ to ‘Singi Khamban: It is also known as the Sindhu; represents the western most of the Himalayan rivers in India. 
  • In the Tibetan region, it is referred to as ‘Singi Khamban’ or Lion’s mouth.
• Origin: Glacier near Bokhar Chu (Kailash Mountain range, Tibetan region)
• Area in India: A little over a third of the Indus basin is located in India. 
  • Leh is situated on the bank of Indus.
• Indus River’s Route: Flows between the Ladakh and Zanskar ranges and passes through Ladakh, Baltistan and Gilgit. 
  • It cuts across the Ladakh range, forming a gorge near Gilgit and enters Pakistan in the Dardistan region.
  • Flows southward and receives ‘Panjnad’ (Satluj, the Beas, the Ravi, the Chenab and the Jhelum) near Mithankot (Pakistan). 
  • Discharges into the Arabian Sea, east of Karachi.
• Tributaries in Kashmir: Zanskar, the Nubra, the Shyok and the Hunza, join it in the Kashmir region.