“Gold Windfall? Claims of $636 Billion Gold Reserves in Tarbela Dam Raise Hope — and Questions”
Islamabad / Karachi – November 4, 2025 — A dramatic announcement has stirred Pakistan’s economic and mining sectors: according to Hanif Gohar, Chairman of Air Karachi and former Senior Vice-President of the Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce & Industry (FPCCI), soil samples from the silt of Tarbela Dam contain gold reserves valued at around US $636 billion.
What the Claim Says
Gohar said that divers were deployed inside the dam to collect soil/silt samples, which were then analysed in a laboratory. From the results, he extrapolated that the total gold value of the silt deposit comes to roughly US $636 billion.
He added that this finding has been formally presented to the Special Investment Facilitation Council (SIFC), the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) and the Chief of Army Staff.
Gohar also said his company is ready to undertake the extraction project — in cooperation with the Water and Power Development Authority (WAPDA) or independently — and has already held talks with international dredging and mining firms.
Why It Matters
If verified and technically viable, this discovery could dramatically impact Pakistan’s economy. The figure cited — US $636 billion — is large enough to potentially address major portions of national debt according to the claimant.
Pakistan’s mining and resource-extraction sectors have long been under-exploited, so the announcement raises hopes for job creation, investment in infrastructure and foreign mining collaboration.
The claim also draws attention to the condition of the Tarbela Dam’s silt accumulation and potential for dredging operations, which have rarely been discussed on this scale before.
Important Caveats & What to Watch
Verification pending. The claim is at this stage an estimate based on sample analysis and extrapolation. No independent government or international geological survey has yet publicly confirmed the figure.
Technical/extraction risks. Even if gold is present at high volume, commercial viability depends on factors such as grade of ore (gold per ton of soil), accessibility, cost of dredging/extraction, environmental concerns, regulatory approvals and infrastructure.
Economic realism. Large headline numbers can raise expectations (and speculation) — but the jump from “estimated reserves” to “recoverable value” often requires years of feasibility studies, pilot projects and significant investment.
Time-frame. Gohar indicated that the project could begin once government approval is secured, but actual extraction and monetisation are likely long term.
Government, Industry Response
No official government statement has yet validated or formalised the US $636 billion figure publicly.
Industry analysts caution that such claims, while promising, must be tempered by realistic timelines and cost-benefit assessments.
WAPDA, SIFC or other relevant bodies may issue clarifications, engage external auditors/geological experts, or initiate feasibility studies for the project in due course.
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What Happens Next
First step: Detailed geological survey and independent audit of the Tarbela silt samples and an assessment of extraction cost vs. return.
If viable: A mining/extraction project with clear government policy, private-sector partners and environmental safeguards.
Meanwhile: The announcement may generate short-term positive sentiment in financial markets, mining-equipment firms and the resource-mining sector, though caution remains about inflated expectations.
