PESHAWAR: Governor Faisal Karim Kundi has announced a decision to immediately suspend all gold mining activities across the province.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Addressing a press conference in Peshawar, Faisal Karim Kundi said that an investigation into illegal mining had revealed that approximately 90 kilograms of gold were being extracted every month. He further claimed that a major portion of the proceeds from this illegal business was being transferred to Afghanistan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The governor said that a zero-tolerance policy would be adopted against individuals involved in illegal mining. He announced that all gold mining leases in the province were being cancelled and all related activities would be suspended immediately.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Faisal Karim Kundi gave gold mining leaseholders and contractors a deadline of one week to remove their heavy machinery from the relevant areas. He warned that failure to comply would result in enforcement action and confiscation of machinery after the deadline.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He added that magistrates had previously confiscated machinery and imposed fines of Rs30,000, despite the law providing for a fine of Rs500,000. He said the matter would also be investigated.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
According to the governor, illegal mining operations involved 8,350 tractors and tractor-trolleys, 1,730 heavy dump trucks and a large number of labourers. He said Kohat had two mineral blocks, designated C and D, while one mining block had been leased for Rs4.92 billion.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The governor further alleged that a significant portion of the proceeds from illegal mining was being transferred to Afghanistan and used to finance terrorism and activities against Pakistan. He claimed that individuals involved in illegal mining paid extortion money to militants in exchange for protection.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He said a major operation had been conducted against illegal gold mining in Kohat, during which police demonstrated courage and brought the illegal mining activities to an end. However, following the operation, police personnel returning from the area were attacked by Fitna al-Khawarij, resulting in the martyrdom of a DSP and 10 other police personnel. Police retaliated and killed 11 militants, he added.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Faisal Karim Kundi announced the establishment of a task force named after martyred DSP Haider Zaman, saying that its formation had been approved. He emphasised that a zero-tolerance policy would be followed against those responsible for killing police personnel and that the perpetrators would be brought to justice.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The governor questioned how long the province would continue to lose its security personnel, saying that the situation could no longer continue.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He also alleged that Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s resources had been exploited over the past 13 years. He said a system of accountability would now be enforced in the province, with the government’s objective being to promote development, prosperity and employment opportunities for young people.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He further stated that delegates from around the world had participated in a conference on mines and minerals, where issues concerning the province’s mineral resources were discussed. He said the international community was now being invited to participate in the mines and minerals sector to help utilise the province’s natural resources for development and prosperity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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PESHAWAR: Governor Faisal Karim Kundi has announced a decision to immediately suspend all gold mining activities across the province. Addressing a press conference in Peshawar, Faisal Karim Kundi said that an investigation into illegal mining had revealed that approximately 90 kilograms of gold were being extracted every month. He further claimed that a major portion […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":3298,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_eb_attr":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[11,12],"tags":[226,50],"class_list":["post-3296","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-latest","category-pakistan","tag-faisal-karim-kundi","tag-kpk"],"yoast_head":"\n