Law lifts ban on mining licences which was in place since 2013. PHOTO: FILE
It was brought into being behind closed doors despite the fact that K-P Legislative Assembly is currently in session. The government issued the ordinance on July 25, Chief Minister Pervez Khattak and Minister for Mineral Development Anisa Zeb Tahirkheli revealed at a news conference on Thursday at CM House.
Both the minister and chief minister congratulated one another for introducing legislation in this key sector and said they had taken the lead from the rest of the provinces after mining was devolved to the provinces through the 18th Constitutional Amendment.
The K-P Assembly is in session, but the government avoided tabling the bill. Minerals development officials were not sharing details of the ordinance with the media despite the fact that it was published two weeks ago and was a public document. However, a copy of the law has yet to be provided to the media.
“We issued the ordinance because mining licences were banned and people were approaching us to lift it,” Tahirkheli said. “Now the ban has been lifted, which is a positive step.” The minister was questioned by the media on why the ordinance was passed behind closed doors if the assembly was in session.
Meanwhile, the chief minister said the law needs to be implemented soon, but will first be taken to the assembly and discussed with the opposition through committees.
“We will pass it from the house and not try to bulldoze it,” she added.
The law
The legislation calls for the establishment of a Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Mineral Investment Facilitation Authority with 13 members. It will be chaired by the minister for mineral development.
Besides government administrative secretaries, the authority will have a member each from the K-P Chamber of Commerce and Industry, K-P Women Chamber of Commerce and Industries. The K-P Mine Owners Association and K-P Mine Workers Association presidents will also be members.
The authority will provide strategic leadership and guidance to the department, make policy for investment, programmes for development of the mineral sector, facilitate and encourage investment and recommend annual rents, royalties and excise duty payable by the holders of mineral titles. It will hear appeals against decisions of the licensing authority and prescribe standards for safety in mines. Also, the body will look out for the welfare of mine workers and make annual reports on development in the sector across the province.
The law also calls for the establishment of a mineral titles committee which will be chaired by the secretary of the department, along with the law and environment secretaries. The committee will grant licences and mining leases and also has the authority to cancel them.
It will lay down process and procedure for awarding licences and mining leases as well as supervising and regulating mining operations in the province.
Published in The Express Tribune, August 12th, 2016.
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