More than 69 kilometers of roads have been constructed to provide accessibility for minerals bearing areas
PESHAWAR(PR):In line with the policy of Provincial Government to promote the mining of Minerals in the province, the Department of Mines and Minerals in Khyber PakhtunKhwa has completed regional geochemical exploration covering an area of 70,000 km2 in the Nothern and Southern parts of KPK. More than 69 kilometers of roads have also been constructed to provide accessibility to minerals bearing areas in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa in an effort to boost the economic growth of the Province.
In a report issued by the Minerals Development Department, a total of Rs 2,162.35 Million have been generated in three years ie: from 2013 till May 2016, whereas the total revenue generation durring the five years of the previous government stood at Rs 2,785.4 Millions.
For promotion of large scale mining, 15 exploration blocks of metallic minerals including precious minerals and gemstones have been identified and delineated in District Chitral whereas seven exploration blocks have been identified and delineated in Hazara division.
The present government has initiated a series of steps for the development of this crucial sector in addition to promoting transparency and controlling illegal mining in the province. New techniques have been introduced for streamlining the mining concession data including digitalization of data collection, its compilation and integrating all the information into Geographic Information System (GIS).
According to the Director Planning for Minerals Development Department, Syed Bilal Khisro, online applications & licensing system has been introduced and a website has been launched in this regard. Additionally, a state of the art and one of its kind, Mining Cadastral System and fully equipped GIS system will be completed within the current fiscal year to further improve transparency and provide a conducive investment climate.
Moreover, the strategy for phasing out use of explosives in the mining is being worked out whiole simoultaneously promoting mechanised mining. Projects on these lines are already initiated in the marble and granite sector which are to be followed in the gemstones sector as well.
In order to control the illegal mining in the Province, Monitoring teams have been setup at the Secretariat level. A total of 121 mining concessions have been cancelled due to voilation of terms and conditions. Auction proceedings have also been made transparent by holding open auctions in the presence of press and media persons eliminating chances of corruption and collusion.
Moreover, Check posts have been established for collection of road cess and checking minerals transportation in minerals bearing areas of Abbotabad and Chitral.
According to Syed Bilal Khisro, the KP government is pioneering a Metallurgic Research institute covering academic skills development and commercial services for value addition of precious and semi- prescious metallic minerals. On simmilar lines, a Gems and Gemological Institute has also been initiated to deliver as a hub of commercial activity for the entire region.
