100-day result: Auction of 135 mines in K-P, generate Rs501m

Dr Amjad Ali tells media that miners’ children will get scholarships

PESHAWAR: Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Minister for Mines and Mineral Development Dr Amjad Ali Minister Dr Amjad Ali said on Wednesday that the Department for Mines and Minerals has assumed administrative control of all mines in the previous Federally Administered Tribal Areas (Fata).

The quarries in tribal districts are now under the administrative control of the provincial Department for Mines and Minerals, Ali said at a press conference held at the Peshawar Press Club.

He said that the provincial government has regularised lease of 135 mines in tribal districts.

Regarding the safety standards and complaints of recurrent cave-in at mines he said the provincial authorities will ensure safety of workers. “Action is being taken against mines in which workers are not provided facilities as per law,” he said.

To further improve the safety of miners, Ali said, a bill pertaining to amendments in the Mines Act 1923 will soon be presented in the cabinet for approval.

The provincial minister said that during his first 100 days in office, the minerals department generated Rs501.2 million in revenue exceeding the total amount accumulated over the same period last year by more than Rs50 million.

He further said that in the first five months of the current fiscal year the department made excise duty collections amounting to Rs46.46 million against target of Rs115 million for 2018-19.

Under his ministry, Ali said, a complaint cell was set up in the minerals directorate. The cell, he said, has received 16 complaints so far. Out of these six complaints had been resolved while remaining had been forwarded to officers concerned for further action.

Meanwhile dispensaries were also set up for free medical treatment of miners.

The provincial ministers said Licencing Authority and Mineral Tiles Committee had expedited work on disposal of applications, deciding on a total of 68 applications during the same period.

He said the department had also robust mechanism by introducing a management information system to discourage illegal mining practices, adding the system would also help collect more revenue for provincial kitty.

He said first ever mining cadastre system was being introduced in the province, entailing online reporting through automatic way besides determining mineral rights of business community.

The provincial minister said the project had been launched to conduct geological mapping and carve out a map identifying mineral sites in K-P.

adding advertisement had been published seeking applications from sons of miners or laborers for admissions in medical and engineering colleges.

Similarly, he added that advertisement had been published in national dailies for freed education to children under scholarship programme, adding work centres were being started for free treatment through telemedicine.

He said process had been launched for extending scholarships to miners
with disabilities besides initiating scholarships for trainee minors.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 6^th, 2018.