Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Governor Faisal Karim Kundi on Saturday announced a ban on gold mining across the province and the revocation of all mining leases as part of measures to curb illegal mining.
Addressing a press conference in Peshawar, Governor Kundi condemned the attack in Kohat that claimed the lives of 10 police personnel returning from an operation against illegal mining in the region.
He said an exemplary operation would be launched against those responsible for the attack, as well as their facilitators, as part of the government’s future strategy.
“There will be zero tolerance for those involved in this,” he said.
The governor also directed mining leaseholders to remove heavy machinery from the relevant areas within a week, warning that they would be held responsible for any losses incurred otherwise.
“After one week, the machinery, if not removed, will be seized,” Governor Kundi said, adding that the fines imposed this time would not be limited to Rs25,000 or Rs30,000, as had been the case under magistrates, but could reach Rs2 million under the law.
“We are also investigating why fines were not being imposed in accordance with the law,” he said.
The governor added that any politicians or individuals from other institutions found to be involved in illegal mining would be punished in accordance with the law.
On the Kohat incident, Governor Kundi said that following the imposition of an emergency and governor’s rule, the administration had launched an operation against illegal gold mining.
He said police personnel were targeted by Fitna al-Khawarij while returning from a successful operation.
“Fitna al-Khawarij and illegal miners had a nexus. The miners used to pay extortion money to the terrorists and, in return, received protection from them,” the governor said, adding that this nexus was responsible for the martyrdom of the police personnel.
Fitna al Khawarij is a term the state uses for terrorists belonging to the banned Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan.
He also shared a list of illegal mining equipment and machinery operating in Kohat. Mining was under way in two blocks — C and D — he said.
“Some 8,350 trucks, 3,660 excavators, 1,730 tractor trolleys with dynamos, 1,600 dumpers, 200 heavy loaders and between 49,000 and 51,000 labourers were involved in the mining activity,” Governor Kundi said, adding that illegal mining was worth Rs4.92 billion a month.
“Eighty per cent of the profits were being sent to Afghanistan and used for terrorist activities against Pakistan,” he said.
The governor further stated that during the tenure of the PTI government, a ‘Youth Committee’ was formed in February 2026 under the chairmanship of a Taliban leader, Naimatullah alias Commander.
“The purpose of this Youth Committee was to collect extortion money from locals and non-locals — Rs800,000 from locals and Rs110,000 from non-locals every week,” he said.
The money was being used by Fitna al-Khawarij against Pakistan, its security forces and police, he added.
More to follow
