PESHAWAR, Jan 15: The NWFP government has reconstituted its gems and mineral promotion committee to review, modify and formulate rules for mineral prospecting, exploration, mining and marketing to effectively utilize gems and mineral reserves of the province, according to official sources.

The reconstituted committee has set elaborate terms of references to bring under utility gems and mineral reserves in the province.

“The reconstitution of the gems and mineral promotion committee is in line with several other measures the provincial government has undertaken in fulfilment of the federal government’s National Mineral Policy,” senior provincial government sources told Dawn.

The gems and mineral promotion committee has been reconstituted after the provincial government’s committee constituted earlier through a notification of the industries department, NWFP, got redundant due to the merger of three entities - directorate of industries and mineral development, the inspectorate of mines, and mineral wing of the Sarhad Development Authority - into the newly-established Directorate General of Mines and Minerals, NWFP.

The trade and business circles associated with the gems and mineral sector, talking to this scribe, attached significance to the reconstitution of the committee therein the private sector has also been given considerable representation.

The secretary industries, commerce and mineral, NWFP, would head the new committee, and other members on the committee include director-general of the Directorate General of Mines and Minerals, director Exploration and Promotion Division of the Directorate General of Mines and Minerals, manager, Smeda, NWFP, chairman All Pakistan Commercial Exporters Association, president of the Frontier Mine Owner Association, NWFP, and director Gems and Gemological Institute, Peshawar.

Whereas, Pervez Elahi Malik, a technical expert (gemologist/geologist) would be the lone co-opted member in the eight-member decision-making body of the provincial government.

The committee, said the sources, has been tasked to work out efficient strategies to reactivate the already auctioned but closed mines apart from supervising the auction of gemstone mines across the province including the vital emerald mine at Shamozai in Swat district.

Apart from ensuring the use of modern technology by the lessees and arranging exchange of expertise and technology with leasing, mining and processing institutions, the committee, according to official sources, would also be responsible for the settlement of surface rent and other identical issues in consultation with the local administration concerned.

Similarly, the committee has also been given an important role to look into and settle the regulatory issues facilitating the exporters and businessmen in removing the bottlenecks hindering the export of gemstones, minerals, and rocks.

It would also, said the sources, facilitate exporters to enhance export of value-added items.

Besides, the committee would also liaise with the government and private sector institutions for carrying out developmental and promotional activities.