KPK Mineral Act: Government initiative to promote mineral sector

KPK Mineral Act: Government initiative to promote mineral sector

PESHAWAR: (APP) Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Minister for Mineral Development, Anisa Zeb Tahirkheli Friday said that provincial government has introduced new Mineral Act to develop mineral sector by discouraging illegal mining and ensuring effective role of mineral department.

She expressed these views while presiding over a meeting regarding new Mineral Act 2016. Representative of mines owners association, Director General Mineral Development, Director Planning, Chief Commissioner Mines and other relevant officials attended the meeting.

The minister said that four model check posts were being established in KP province that were equipped with latest facilities included machine readable challan book for ensuring collection of royalty in a smooth way.

She said establishment of mineral bank was under consideration while a cell to conduct mechanized blasting would also be established in near future. She also constituted a joint committee of mines owners and mineral department under the chair of Director Planning Syed Bilal Khusro to review the act and recommend.

During the meeting, participants and mine owners suggested some necessary amendments in the act to improve its efficacy.