PESHAWAR: Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Mine Owners Association has urged the provincial government to immediately halt the issuance of mining leases in Chitral to companies allegedly facing blacklisting, investigations and outstanding government dues.
Addressing a news conference at Peshawar Press Club on Tuesday, the association’s president, Mohiuddin Sani, called upon the provincial government, mines and minerals department, Special Investment Facilitation Council (SIFC), National Accountability Bureau, Anti-Corruption Establishment (ACE), and the forest and environment departments to take notice of alleged irregularities in the grant of mining leases in Chitral.
Mr Sani said local investors had the first and fundamental right over the mineral resources of Chitral and demanded that their legal rights be protected. He said no company facing serious investigations or pending cases with government institutions should be awarded mining leases without comprehensive legal and financial scrutiny.
He alleged that a private company was being considered for mining and mineral leases in Chitral despite having outstanding government dues amounting to $945,000. According to him, the amount comprised penalties allegedly imposed under the rules of the Directorate General of Mines between 2014 and 2026, which, he claimed, had not yet been paid by the firm.
Mr Sani further alleged that the association had serious reservations about the company and claimed that evidence was available regarding investigations and official proceedings against it in connection with alleged illegal mining, smuggling of minerals, particularly antimony, to China.
He referred to allegations concerning around 1,500 tonnes of antimony and said the issue of government dues allegedly owed by the company also required investigation.
The mine owners’ association president alleged that some cases concerning the company had been transferred from NAB to ACE but were subsequently closed without lawful proceedings. He demanded that the chief minister order a thorough inquiry into the conduct of the director general and secretary of the mines and minerals department and the ACE director general.
Mr Sani said SIFC should not facilitate any company allegedly facing serious cases or outstanding liabilities. He questioned the repeated correspondence by SIFC with provincial departments regarding mining matters, arguing that mines were a provincial subject.
He demanded a ban on the company, alleging that it was exploiting mining leases at the expense of local rights and was already indebted to the government.
He also alleged that the name of the Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission (PAEC), a sensitive national institution, was being used in connection with the creation of new mineral blocks in Chitral.
He claimed that large areas had been declared new mineral blocks and applications submitted by residents had subsequently been cancelled, while the relevant national institution had allegedly expressed ignorance about such developments.
Mr Sani claimed that during the past year, several applications submitted by residents for mining leases in Chitral had been cancelled without assigning reasons.
Published in Dawn, August 12th, 2026