, April 4 -- Beneath the quiet agricultural landscape of Pirganj upazila in Rangpur lies a long-standing but largely untapped story of coal reserves and iron-rich mineral deposits, now drawing renewed attention from policymakers and experts.

Recent reviews of historical data, alongside ongoing exploration, have highlighted the significant potential of the Khalashpir coalfield and surrounding areas.

However, officials said comprehensive feasibility studies are still needed before any commercial extraction can begin.

A resource identified decades ago

Interest in Khalashpir dates back to 1959-62 when the then Geological Survey of Pakistan first identified coal potential in the Gondwana Basin during exploratory work in the area.

Further ...