A meeting of the Standing Committee on Minerals of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly was held on Wednesday at the Provincial Assembly Secretariat under the chairmanship of the Committee Chairman and Member of the Provincial Assembly, Ikramullah Ghazi.
The meeting was attended by committee members Muhammad Yamin Khan, Ahmad Karim Kundi, Zubair Khan, Ms. Shehla Bano, and Ms. Sobia Shahid, while Arbab Muhammad Usman participated via Zoom. Also present were the Secretary for Minerals along with relevant officials, as well as representatives from the Forest Department, Revenue Department, Law Department, Advocate General’s Office, and the Provincial Assembly Secretariat.
The committee reviewed the progress made by the Minerals Department in implementing the directives issued during the previous meeting and examined the follow-up measures taken. The Secretary for Minerals briefed the committee on the department’s performance, ongoing initiatives, and overall progress.
During the meeting, Member of the Provincial Assembly Ahmad Karim Kundi raised various questions regarding mineral leases, Guzara Areas, Reserved Areas, Protected Areas, and forest-related matters. Committee members held a detailed discussion on these issues. Chairman Ikramullah Ghazi expressed concern that out of approximately 4,000 mineral leases, only around 2,000 are currently operational, while 765 leases have been cancelled.
Officials from the Minerals Department explained that lease cancellations were due to a number of factors, including the law and order situation, issues related to the use of explosives during mining operations, and legal complications concerning forest lands. However, the Standing Committee was not satisfied with these explanations.
Committee member Zubair Khan pointed out that in some cases, the ownership of the land belongs to one individual, while the Minerals Department issues mining leases in the name of another person. Taking notice of the matter, Chairman Ikramullah Ghazi directed the formation of a subcommittee.
The subcommittee will be chaired by Zubair Khan, with Muhammad Yamin Khan and Ms. Sobia Shahid serving as its members. The subcommittee will conduct a comparative review of the data provided by the Forest Department and the Minerals Department regarding Guzara, Reserved, and Protected Areas. It will also examine all mineral leases issued, the criteria and procedures followed for their issuance, cancelled leases, and the losses incurred by the affected companies. The subcommittee will submit its report to the Standing Committee, which will use its findings to determine the future course of action.
At the conclusion of the meeting, Chairman Ikramullah Ghazi directed senior officials of the Minerals Department and the Forest Department to ensure that the views of landowners are duly incorporated while drafting special laws and legislation relating to the minerals sector. He further instructed the relevant departments to ensure their participation in the next meeting with accurate data and complete records.