Resource management: CM for autonomous authority to lease mines

LAHORE: Punjab Chief Minister Shehbaz Sharif has ordered the formation of an autonomous authority for ensuring transparency in the process of leasing mines in the province.

This was decided during a meeting held on Saturday to review the performance of the minerals department besides measures for exploration of natural resources, promotion of industrial activities and reorganisation of the Punjab Minerals Development Corporation.

While presiding over the meeting, Shehbaz said the reorganisation of the minerals department on modern lines was the need of the hour.

He also ordered a comprehensive survey of mining areas of the province for accelerating industrial activities while identifying those areas with investment-friendly environment. The best companies of the world should be contacted for survey, he added. He said that emergency steps should be taken for the capacity-building of the institution.

The CM also ordered an inquiry into expansion of factories against rules in mining areas in the past and directed to set up a high-powered committee for this purpose.

He said that it was lamentable that factories continued to expand in violation of rules and regulations while no action was taken.

The Mines secretary briefed the meeting in detail on the performance of the department, exploration of natural resources and other matters.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 25^th, 2016.