PESHAWAR: Representatives of all students groups have rejected the draft Mines and Minerals Bill 2025 and vowed to take to streets against its possible approval.

They expressed these views during a conference at Bacha Khan Markaz organised by Pakhtun Students Federation (PkSF). The event was presided over by Pakhtun Students Federation provincial president Achak Khan Achakzai.

Those who spoke on the occasion included Islami Jamiat Talba provincial general secretary Mohammad Yaseen, Pakhtunkhwa Students Organisation Peshawar president Ghairat Yousufzai, Jamiat Talba Islam provincial president Tariq Shah, Peoples Students Federation provincial president Rashid Yousufzai, Insaf Students Federation provincial secretary information Murad Khan, Muslim Students Federation Peshawar district president Zahid Khan and others.

The conference deemed the bill a direct attack on provincial autonomy and 18th Constitutional Amendment and against the interests of people of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

The bill, they said, was seen as a federal intervention into the province’s natural resources, undermining provincial autonomy.

The conference emphasised that provinces had constitutional rights over their natural resources, and any legislation limiting these rights would not be accepted at any cost.

The participants demanded that the bill be withdrawn and stakeholders, particularly students and public representatives, be consulted before any future legislation.

The students, through a resolution, unanimously rejected the proposed Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Mines and Minerals Bill 2025 and vowed that they would launch a campaign against the provincial government, if the bill was approved.

They observed that the bill was seen as a federal government’s intervention in the province’s natural resources, undermining provincial autonomy.

The conference emphasised that provinces had constitutional rights over their natural resources, and any legislation limiting these rights would not be accepted.

The conference demanded that the bill be withdrawn and stakeholders, particularly students and public representatives, be consulted before any future legislation.

Published in Dawn, May 30th, 2025