Minister for Mineral Development Ziaulllah Afridi had issued directives that halted granting of reconnaissance and exploration licences till a new mining policy was devised in July 2013. PHOTO: FILE
Chairman of Pak-China Investors Joint Venture and Tuny-Pak Mineral Private Limited Jhon Fu Qiufeng told reporters in a press conference at the Peshawar Press Club on Wednesday, that the concerned department had delayed granting of mining licence for more than three months. A month over the time limit set in prescribed government rules.
“We are unable to continue mining in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) because of non-issuance of a licence by Minister for Mineral Development Ziaulllah Afridi”, complained Qiufeng as he sought to remind authorities that Chinese investors had made significant investments in various mine and mineral projects in the province.
He added that on July 23, 2013, Afridi had issued directives that halted granting of reconnaissance and exploration licences till a new mining policy was devised.
Qiufeng explained that according to government rules, it was mandatory to issue licences within two months but his company’s applications had been pending for the last three months. He alleged that the concerned department was resorting to delaying tactics.
The chairman said his company had also conveyed their concerns to Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf Chairman Imran Khan and had held meetings with the chief minister (CM) and governor apprising them of the situation. After as Afridi refused to meet them, Qiufeng claimed, he met Pervez Khattak who asked his adviser Rafatullah Babar to resolve the issue.
Frontier Mine Owner Association (FMOA) provincial president Sherbandi Marwat claimed the minerals department had completely banned the issuance of licences to mine owners for the past nine months due to which mine discoveries had been monopolised in the province.
He further alleged that the government-formed mine committees had cancelled 80% of the leases, while cases had been registered against legal mine owners and were being harassed by authorities.
Marwat said that apprehensions of Chinese investors’ had led to the Chinese government’s refusal to allow their companies to invest in K-P, a move detrimental to the economy of the province.
Officials of the company and the provincial president and general secretary of the FMOA were also present at the occasion.
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