Blocks to be auctioned for gold extraction

Four mining blocks along the river in the Nowshera district have been auctioned for gold extraction, generating over Rs4 billion in revenue.

Musaddiq Abbasi, Special Assistant to the Chief Minister of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa for Anti-Corruption Establishment, stated that more blocks will soon be put up for auction, expected to generate billions more in revenue.

"There are approximately 17 blocks along the banks of the Indus River designated for gold prospecting and extraction. Three previous attempts to auction these blocks failed," he said. The reasons behind the failure were identified, revealing that companies involved in gold extraction had reservations, primarily due to the involvement of local mafias.

Abbasi mentioned that illegal machinery had been installed in the area, with some foreign nationals involved, causing companies to fear that their investments might be wasted.

Abbasi further said that following the vision of PTI founder Imran Khan, who actively opposes mafias, and under the direction of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Ali Amin Khan Gandapur, the Anti-Corruption Establishment carried out a grand operation in collaboration with the district administrations and police in Nowshera and Kohat.

During this operation, over 200 illegal machines were confiscated, and FIRs were registered against those involved.

Musaddiq Abbasi added that the provincial government has now auctioned four blocks for gold extraction. He assured that the companies awarded contracts will be fully protected and that no interference will be tolerated during their operations. He expressed hope that future auctions would attract more companies, stating that with the PTI government in power, mafias would not have the courage to disrupt the process. He also emphasized that if any companies require assistance, the Anti-Corruption Establishment is readily available to support them.