PESHAWAR: Mines contractors have urged the federal government to stop illegal mining in Bajaur Agency and issue NOCs to contractors on merit.

Speaking at a press conference here on Wednesday, a group of contractors led by Malik Mukaram Khan, a resident of Bajaur Agency, disclosed that some influential persons were busy exploiting mines but the officials concerned were least bothered to take action against them.

He said the call letters regarding issuance of NoCs were cancelled on several occasions on the whims of influential people which had caused unrest among the contractors.

Mukaram Khan alleged that the political administration was creating hurdles in issuance of NOCs to them for exploring mining deposits.

He urged Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Governor Iqbal Zafar Jhagra to take notice of the injustices with genuine applicants.

The government, he said should conduct a survey to issue contracts to genuine people for exploiting mining deposits in the agency.

He also demanded cancellation of illegal mining contracts in order to avert any possible law and order situation in the tribal region.

Published in Dawn February 16th, 2017