KARACHI: The Sindh Assembly was on Monday informed that the large reserves of pink and black granite in Nagarparkar, Thar, spread over more than 200,000 acres, comprised over 20 billion tonnes of intrusive igneous rock.

Furnishing replies and statement to the written and verbal queries of the lawmakers during Question Hour in the house, Mines and Mineral Minister Mir Shabbir Ali Bijarani said the provincial government wanted to develop mineral sector, but currently mining was closed at Karoonjhar due to protest by local people.

He said that there was no illegal mining or extraction of the granite stone from Karoonjhar Hills, adding that following reports of illegal mining, a committee was formed to probe the matter.

“The committee visited the area and held a public hearing on Oct 15, 2021 and ascertained that there was no illegal mining of the granite stone in the area,” he added.

Minister says mines and mineral department earned Rs854.66m revenue in 2021

The minister said the committee heard the public complaints and reviewed the concerns of local people. “It was decided by the committee to stop mining in the area for the time being,” he said and added that the Supreme Court had stopped the mining in 2011 when protests against mining erupted.

He said the mining work would be started as soon as the matters were settled and the benefit of the granite would be given to the local people.

“According to the information we received, there are 20 billion tonnes reserves of granite stone,” the minister said and added that mining would be allowed in 150,000 acres, while the remaining 50,000 acres had been declared protected area as it comprised of forest, wildlife and archaeological sites.

To another question, he said that mining leases of granite at Karoonjhar Mountain Range were very old and were granted in 1990 and 2000. “After the grant of mining leases, the same remained under litigation and mining operations could be carried out till to date,” he said.

In reply to a question, he said the total revenue generated by the mines and mineral department from Jan 1, 2021 to Dec 31, 2021 was Rs854.66 million.

Illegal bus terminals at Sohrab Goth

During the proceedings, Ghazala Sial, a member of the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), through her call-attention notice, inquired from the government that what steps were taken to remove illegal terminals of buses, rickshaws and trucks from Sohrab Goth which caused severe traffic jams.

She pointed out that it took more than half an hour to reach the Superhighway from the culminating point of the Lyari Expressway at Sohrab Goth due to blockade of traffic by rickshaws, buses and trucks.

The PPP lawmaker said that people were facing traffic problems due to illegal bus and rickshaw stands at Sohrab Goth and asked the provincial government to solve that problem.

While replying to her call-attention notice, Parliamentary Secretary Ghanwar Isran said the transport department was working on it.

He said the traffic police fined several violators there.

Legislation

The assembly unanimously passed The Land Acquisition (Sindh Amendment) Bill, 2019, The Sindh Land Revenue (Amendment Bill, 2019, and The Sindh Public Procurement (Amendment) Bill, 2021.

Earlier, the parliamentary party leader of the Pakistan Terheek-i-Insaf, Khurrum Sher Zaman, rose to point out the lack of quorum in the house referring to Rule 5-A of the Assembly Rules.

Deputy Speaker Rehana Leghari reminded him that all parties in the assembly had agreed not to point out quorum during the Question Hour session.

Only two members of the Grand Democratic Alliance, five of the PTI and 33 of PPP members were present in the house during the Question Hour session.

The sitting was later adjourned to Tuesday (today).

Published in Dawn, August 2nd, 2022