Islamabad. The Asian Development Bank (ADB) on Friday approved a $410 million package for the development of Recko Dick copper and gold mines in Pakistan.

The rare earth reserves in this mine have attracted not only foreign interest but also human rights concerns.

The potentially large open mining project in Pakistan’s Balochistan province aims to develop the world’s largest untapped copper and gold reserves. Its production is expected to start in 2028.

For decades, Pakistan has been battling a separatist insurgency in the mineral-rich southern province. Foreign-funded energy projects — especially those run by Chinese companies — have been the target of repeated attacks.

The package approved by ADB includes a $300 million loan to Canadian company Barrick and a $110 million credit guarantee for local governments.

Once completed, Rayco Dick is expected to become the world’s fifth largest copper mine. Copper is considered a very important metal in wire, motor and renewable energy technology.

“Reko Dick will not only advance the clean energy transition, but will also support digital innovation and contribute to important mineral supply chains,” ADB President Masato Kanda said in a statement.

Kanda described the package as a game-changer for Pakistan. He described it as a step to take the nation towards a stronger and diverse economy.

However, human rights activists have strongly criticized ray’s dick project in Balochistan. According to them, the revolt was partly triggered by dissatisfaction over the distribution of income from natural resources.

Although Balochistan is rich in hydrocarbons and minerals, about 70 percent of its 15 million inhabitants live below the poverty line.

About three dozen civil society groups have urged THE ADB and the International Finance Corporation to stop investing in Ray’s Dick.

“The project risks not only increasing the insecurity of human rights defenders but also contributing to environmental and social destruction,” groups including MiningWatch Canada and the Asia-Pacific Network of Environmental Defenders warned in a public letter published on Tuesday.

Barrick Company declined a request for comment. Meanwhile, Pakistan’s army chief has recently held talks with US President Donald Trump’s administration on trade tariffs, trying to push the country forward as a hub of minerals and rare earth elements.

For decades, Pakistani officials have tried to make Ray’s dick the cornerstone of the nation’s economic recovery strategy.

However, although its potential is huge, due to legal disputes, administrative complexities and differences between the federal and provincial governments, the mine project has been moving slowly for years.