The mines and minerals sector of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province may soon be declared an industry in order to attract national and international investors and add value to the minerals found there.

Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Mahmood Khan, while presiding over a meeting of the Minerals Investment Facilitation Authority (MIFA), ordered the relevant authorities to develop procedures for recognising the mines and minerals sector as an industry in the province.

The advantages of joint ventures under the act were discussed during the meeting. These advantages include increased income generation in place of fees, higher investor confidence, industrial expansion, and more job creation owing to value addition.

In accordance with the 2017 Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Mines and Minerals Act, the chief minister, who also oversees the department of mines and minerals, officially approved the issuance of 24 mining leases that have already been approved by the Minerals Titles Committee (MTC).

In addition to creating a criterion in the lease award process to ensure that minerals mined in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa receive value addition within the province rather than being exported elsewhere, the chief minister ordered action to ensure that merit and transparency are upheld.

He directed the relevant authorities to develop a plan for the creation of particular mineral-refining zones over the next two months in order to maximise income generation.

The chief minister also gave the go-ahead to conduct the required actions for the province's minerals to be certified, which would draw investors and assist in value addition.

He also ordered that eco-friendly crushing zones be fully established by the end of the current month and said that strict action will be taken to stop illicit mineral mining and mineral smuggling.

The forum was given a thorough briefing of the reform measures implemented over the past four years by the current provincial government. It was also informed that the department's entire business has been digitalized and that over 21,000 new jobs, including those for engineers, mine managers, and 20,000 mine workers, have already been created.

It was further informed that the draft of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Minerals Policy 2022 has been prepared and mineral auction rules 2022 have also been vetted by the law department. Other major legislative reforms completed by this government include Coal Mine Rules 2022, Rescue & Training Rules 2022, Metalleferrous Mines Rules 2022, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Mines & Minerals (Amendment) Act 2019, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Mines Safety, Inspection and Regulation Act 2019, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Excise Duty on Minerals (Labour Welfare) Act 2021 and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Temporary Permit Rules 2020.

In addition, over 1000 mine leases were temporarily suspended, over 15,000 inspections were undertaken over the previous four years, hundreds of first information reports were filed against unlawful mining, and 322 mines were permanently closed owing to inadequate safety measures. The Mineral Testing Lab and Mining Cadastral Phase-II project are also being upgraded.

When told of the measures taken for the welfare of mining workers, it was disclosed that Rs 130 million has been distributed as scholarships to the offspring of workers. Those with permanent disabilities received Rs 43 million, whilst workers with occupational pulmonary disorders received Rs. 22 million.

Additionally, Rs 8.7 million has been allotted for employees with lung ailments, and Rs 12.50 million has been set aside for skill-development programmes for the children of labourers.

The government has cancelled 50 unused mineral titles, including 13 cement factories in the province, which was also informed at the meeting.

Credit : Independent News Pakistan-WealthPk