Reko Diq

{{Short description|Pakistani town}}

{{Use Pakistani English|date=September 2024}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2024}}

{{More citations needed|date=September 2024}}

{{Infobox settlement

| name = Reko Diq

| native_name =

| settlement_type = Town

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| coordinates = {{coord|29|06|3.02|N|62|06|20.10|E|region:PK|display=inline,title}}

| pushpin_map = Balochistan Pakistan#Pakistan

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| subdivision_type = Country

| subdivision_name = Pakistan

| subdivision_type1 = Province

| subdivision_name1 = Balochistan

| subdivision_type2 = Tehsil

| subdivision_name2 = Chagai

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| government_type = Town

| leader_title = Nazim

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| timezone = PST

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Reko Diq ({{langx|bal|{{nq|ریکوڈک}}}}; {{langx|ur|{{Nastaliq|ریکوڈک}}}}), is a small town in Chagai District, Balochistan. It is located in a desert area, {{convert|70|km}} north-west of Naukundi, close to Pakistan's border with Iran and Afghanistan. The area is located in the Tethyan belt, which stretches all the way from Turkey and Iran into Pakistan.{{Citation needed|date=September 2024}}

Reko Diq is a remote location in the north-west of Chagai district. Chagai is a sparsely populated western desert district of Balochistan. It is mostly low relief and thinly populated desert. The weather of Chagai ranges from very hot summers of {{cvt|40|-|50|C}} to very cool winters down to {{cvt|-10|C}}, with less than {{cvt|40|mm}} of precipitation (winter rain and minor snow). It also exhibits periods of high wind and dust- and sandstorms, which have a demobilising impact on the local activities and trade. Access to the Chagai district is via the Zahidan–Quetta highway, also known as the London Road.

According to the 1998 census the population of Chagai District was 202,562, along with approximately 53,000 Afghan refugees. The population of Chagai District was estimated to be over 250,000 in 2005. Over 50% of the people of the area are Muslims.{{Citation needed|date=September 2024}}

Reko Diq, which means 'sandy peak' in Baluchi language, is also the name of an ancient volcano.{{Citation needed|date=September 2024}}

The Reko Diq Mine is famous because of its vast gold and copper reserves; it is believed to have the world's fifth-largest gold deposit.{{cite news

| url= http://herald.dawn.com/news/1153283/magic-mountains-the-reko-diq-gold-and-copper-mining-project

| title= Magic mountains: The Reko Diq gold and copper mining project

| work= Herald (Pakistan)

| date= 11 November 2015

| accessdate= 14 February 2016

}} According to Samar Mubarakmand, the Geological Survey of Pakistan discovered the Reko Diq reserves in 1978.{{cite web|title= Balochistan set to undertake Reko Diq project|date=31 January 2013 |url=https://www.nation.com.pk/31-Jan-2013/balochistan-set-to-undertake-reko-diq-project}}