QUETTA, July 15: Pakistan Mines Security Services Chairman Azam Khan Yousufzai has claimed that the closure of Chamalang coalmine in Loralai causes Rs2.5 billion revenue loss to the government annually and demanded deployment of Frontier Corps to reopen the mine. He told a press conference on Friday that withdrawal of security forces from Chamalang, Marwar, Mirgat and Aabegum coalmines had encouraged occupiers of the mines on the one hand and caused ethnic tension in Balochistan on the other.

He said that owners of the mines would continue to face financial hardships if the government did not establish its writ by providing security to help them continue the work.

He claimed that those who were behind rocket firing and bomb blasts in the province had demanded huge amounts from the mine owners and on their refusal had occupied the coal mines.

Mr Yousufzai said that either the government should play its due role by protecting the miners or allow the Kakar tribesmen to arrange a security system at the mines.

He said that they had reached an agreement with the Bijrani, Lohari and another branch of the Mari tribe of Kohlu, according to which the mine owners would pay them Rs20 million every month to ensure safe passage of coal trucks from the Mari area.

He said that according to an estimate, daily supply of coal from Chamalang mines to industries in Punjab used to be 8,000 tons.

He regretted that the matter had been brought to the notice of the governor, chief minister and corps commander but no step had been taken to solve the problem.