K-P halts mineral bill after backlash

The Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa government has suspended the implementation of the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Mineral Development Company Bill following strong public and political criticism.

Chief Minister Sohail Afridi said the government's foremost priority is maintaining public trust, announcing that the bill's implementation has been put on hold for now.

The provincial cabinet had earlier approved legislation related to the mineral sector, but the move triggered sharp opposition, including from within Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf circles. Critics drew parallels between the proposed bill and the controversial Mines and Minerals Act introduced during the tenure of Ali Amin Gandapur, which was later withdrawn on the instructions of the party's founding chairman.

In a message shared on social media, the chief minister clarified that the government intended to establish a dedicated company for minerals, similar to existing entities in the energy and oil and gas sectors. The aim, he said, was to ensure that the people of K-P benefit from their natural resources while curbing illegal mining and the influence of mining mafias.

Afridi emphasized that the legislation presented to the cabinet was not the "Mines and Minerals Bill 2025," but a bill to establish the "Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Mineral Development Company." However, acknowledging widespread confusion and concerns among the public, he said the government has decided to pause both the company's formation and the legislative process for the time being.

It may be mentioned here that the provincial government has come under severe criticism following the approval of the Mineral Development and Management Company Bill, with leaders of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) also raising serious objections to the legislation.

The bill was approved by the provincial cabinet in its recent meeting and has since triggered widespread debate and backlash on social media.

PTI leaders and supporters have questioned the timing and intent of the legislation, with several social media posts asserting that no law related to mines and minerals would be acceptable without the approval of the party's founding chairman. Critics argue that the bill contradicts earlier positions taken by the PTI leadership on mineral legislation.

In response to the growing criticism, the provincial government issued a clarification, stating that the founding chairman had opposed the Mines and Minerals Act, not the Mineral Development and Management Company Bill.