PESHAWAR: Rejecting the proposed mining and minerals policy of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government, Frontier Mine Owners Association (FMOA) has said that the policy will destroy the mining sector in the province if implemented in its present form.

The members of FMOA staged a protest demonstration outside Peshawar Press Club on Monday against the government. Led by FMOA president Sher Bandi Marwat and general secretary Haji Abdul Jalil, they chanted slogans against the government for increasing taxes and royalty.

The protesters said that the minerals policy would render thousands of labourers jobless. It could cause increase in unemployment in the province, they said.

“The province is already hit hard by terrorism where people are crying for two time meal but the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI)-led government has failed to devise a solid policy to promote the mines sector,” Mr Jalil said.

Level allegations of corruption against the minister concerned

Criticising Provincial Minister for Mines and Mineral Development Ziaullah Afridi, he alleged that the minister was bent upon creating problems for investors without any reason. He said that mine owners were also determined to raise voice against the injustices.

Mr Jalil said that the new policy was tantamount to depriving labourers of their livelihood. He said that government should avoid forcing the investors to say goodbye to the mineral sector. He said that almost 0.8 million labourers were associated with minimal sector. He said that the new policy would force the investors to sack the workers owing to financial constraints.

“PTI chief Imran Khan is insisting on education for everyone but the poor labourers, who have lost their jobs, are forced to stop sending their children to schools,” Mr Jalil said.

FMOA president Sher Bandi Khan Marwat also alleged that the minister concerned was involved in corruption. He alleged that the minister forced people to pay bribe for obtaining leases in the mineral sector.

He said that the lease holders were stopped form working on the sites but on the other hand illegal excavation was in progress in different areas. He said that government was reluctant to take action against the people involved in illegal excavation.

The mining sector, Mr Marwat said, could be a big source of revenue generation for the provincial government but it needed a concrete policy to be devised in consultation with the mine owners. “To hide failure of the minister concerned, hundred per cent transportation royalty was imposed on the mine owners, which is injustice,” he said.

Mr Marwat demanded of PTI chairman Imran Khan to take notice of the injustices with the mine owners and poor labourers.

He said that government should review its policy regarding mines and minerals development.

“We raised voice at different forums but government did not take any notice and now the option left with us is to hold protest demonstration outside Imran Khan’s residence in Bani Gala, Islamabad and outside Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly,” the FMOA president said.

Published in Dawn, October 21st, 2014