Mineral development: Mine owners slam political interference
Frontier Mine Owners Association President Sherbandi Khan Marwat addressing a press conference at PPC. PHOTO: INP
Mine owners and lease holders urged the government to remove all hurdles involved in introducing legislation to increase revenue in the mining sector.
Speaking at a news conference at Peshawar Press Club on Thursday, participants said these hurdles had affected the discovery of precious minerals.
Frontier Mine Owners Association President Sherbandi Khan Marwat said a bill was proposed after consultations with relevant stakeholders and remained pending with the law department for formal vetting. The aim of the law is to achieve a target of Rs3 billion in the mining sector.
The annual revenue of Punjab is Rs3 billion despite its low-rated minerals. However, K-P – which is replete with valuable minerals – is lagging behind. As a result, the lack of interest from the provincial government was a major factor.
Marwat said the mineral development department was taking measures to improve rules and regulations, but some institutions and influential political figures were creating hurdles.
Published in The Express Tribune, May 6th, 2016.