PMDC is an autonomous corporation running under the administrative control of Ministry of Energy (Petroleum Division) , Government of Pakistan. It was established in 1974 with an authorized capital of Rs.1,000 million to expand and help mineral development activities in the country.It is involved in exploration and evaluation of economic mineral deposits, preparation of techno-economic feasibility reports, mining and marketing.PMDC is operating 4 Coal Mines, 4 Salt Mines/ quarries, silica sand quarry and Soapstone quarry. PMDC shares 17% of the coal and 58% of the total salt production in the country.PMDC carried out about two dozen exploration schemes on a variety of industrial minerals. It has equally rendered consultation services to cement industry and a host of small private investors. Being a federal agency it collaborates with international agencies as a joint venture partner to explore mineral wealth of the country.