CM Shehbaz Sharif approves Punjab Minerals Development Authority
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LAHORE: (APP) Punjab Chief Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif Saturday presided over a meeting to review performance of the Minerals Department, besides measures for exploration of natural resources and reorganization of the Punjab Minerals Development Corporation.
The meeting decided to constitute an autonomous authority for ensuring transparency in the process of leasing of mines, said an official handout.
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Addressing the meeting, Shehbaz Sharif said Punjab was rich in natural resources and the Minerals Department was being reorganized on modern lines to benefit from the same.
He directed that process of restructuring of the Punjab Minerals Development Corporation should be completed at the earliest and a comprehensive survey of mining areas of the province be conducted for accelerating industrial activities.
He said those areas should be identified in the survey as have an investment-friendly environment. He said the best companies of the world should be contacted for conducting the survey.
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He said emergent steps should be taken for the capacity-building of the Punjab Minerals Development Corporation.
The chief minister ordered an inquiry into expansion of factories against rules in mining areas in the past and directed to set up a high-powered committee for this purpose.
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The Secretary Mines briefed the meeting in detail regarding performance of the department, exploration of natural resources and other matters.
Provincial ministers Rana Sanaullah Khan, Ch Sher Ali, Ch Muhammad Shafiq, the chief secretary, additional chief secretary, secretary environment and officials concerned attended the meeting.
