PESHAWAR: The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government has decided to set up a mineral development and management company of global standards to “develop mines and mineral sector in the province along modern lines.”

The decision was made in a meeting of the mines and mineral development department at the Chief Minister’s House here with Chief Minister Ali Amin Khan Gandapur in the chair, according to an official statement issued on Saturday.

The participants included the law minister, special assistant to the chief minister for industries, chief secretary, additional chief secretaries, and secretaries of the relevant departments.

The chief minister directed authorities to complete homework for the establishment of a mineral development and management company in the minimum possible time and place the matter before the provincial cabinet for approval.

CM Gandapur orders introduction of mechanical mining mechanism

Officials said the proposed company was meant to facilitate effective and efficient use of mineral resources, attract national and foreign investment and thus, ensuring multifold increase in the annual income of the sector.

They added that the company would also help simplify the long and complicated investment process and facilitate investors.

The meeting decided that a regulatory mechanism would be put in place for better management of mineral resources and that necessary amendments to the laws would be made for the purpose.

The participants also discussed various proposals for modern mechanical mining.

The chief minister said mechanical mining mechanism was much needed because the conventional and old methods of mining caused a waste of valuable mineral resources in the province.

He directed authorities to take the necessary steps for introducing mechanical mining methods across the province to ensure “full advantage of available mineral resources.”

The meeting decided that stern action would be taken against illegal mining activities in the province, while authorities were directed to immediately initiate the process for establishing the mining police for the purpose.

The chief minister ordered result-oriented steps against illegal riverbed mining.

He said that all companies working in the mineral sector should install their processing plants within the province.

Mr Gandapur said that work on the installation of CCTV cameras for monitoring leased mineral sites in the province should be geared up.

He said that Khyber Pakhtunkhwa was rich in precious mineral resources, and therefore, his provincial government would take all possible steps to ensure that these resources are utilised in an effective manner.

The chief minister also ordered authorities to ensure the ease of doing business to attract foreign investment and said that it was one of the top priorities of the provincial government to ensure the utilisation of all available natural resources in an effective and useful manner to boost ways of income generation in the province.

“We need an efficient asset management system to achieve the purpose,” he said.

Mr Gandapur said that the provincial government would offer its all-out support for strengthening productive sectors of the province.

The meeting also decided to establish the Gems and Jewellery City in Peshawar with a modern art laboratory and allied facilities.

Published in Dawn, May 5th, 2024