KP to issue short-term mining permits to land owners: Anisa

KP Minister for Mineral Development, Anisa Zeb Tahirkheli on Wednesday said that under the Mines and Mineral Development and Regulations Bill, 2016, the government has decided the issuance of short-term mining permit to land owners.
She expressed these views while presiding over Assistant Directors' KP Conference here in the Cabinet Room of Civil Secretariat. Secretary Mines and Minerals, Syed Jabbar Shah, Additional Secretary Nosheen Azam, Director General (DG) Mines and Minerals, Abdul Wahid, Chief Inspector Mines, Ziarat Khan, ADs (Field & Headquarters), GIS and technical staff (Drawing and Surveyors) also attended the conference.
The short-term permit will be issued by the Assistant Directors and the land owners would be allowed for small level mining. The permit will be issued for an area of up to five acres.
Anisa said under Mines and Mineral Development and Regulation Bill, 2016, the officials of the Mines and Minerals Department have been empowered to control illegal mining. She told the conference that the government wants to impart training to the officials of the department regarding all large scale industrial and metallic minerals and communication skills.
She said that in the wake of powers granted under the new law, the field officers will stop illegal mining and will report wherever it is happening. In case of the lack of capacity, the department will extend full support to them.
The provincial minister said that the government is also establishing check posts and providing motorcycles to field staff while the strength of mineral guards will also be increased. She said that efforts for getting police support will be made through district administration, so illegal mining will be closed down.
The minister said that till now the field staff of the department was lacking powers, but it was being granted and the performance of the official will bring improvement in it. The minister said that she is conducting surprise visits and taking out old files.
She directed all assistant directors for submission of a detail report about sub-letting in their respective areas to Director General (DG) to prepare procedure and prevent the spread of panic among the people. She said that under the new sub-contracting is allowed, but sub-letting should be abolished in any circumstances.