World Bank team wants to invest in KP mineral sector

A representative delegation of World Bank led by Vincant Palmade on Wednesday called on Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Minister for Minerals Development Anisa Zeb Tahirkheli and discussed matters of mutual interest. The World Bank delegation informed the minister about their keen interest of investment in mineral sector in light of Peshawar Torkham Economic Corridor Project and extended willingness for co-operation in this regard.
Secretary Minerals Development Syed Zaheer-ul-Islam, DG Minerals Development Syed Muhammad Shah and other relevant high ups were present on the occasion. Welcoming the World Bank's co-operation, KP minister said the provincial government was promoting mineral sector and in this regard they would welcome the foreign investors to come and invest in the province.
She remarked that the region comprising Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) and Afghanistan were rich of natural resources and we are thinking to establish a regional minerals chamber to link the economic and trade opportunities of the region to the rest of the world.
The minister added that they were innovating Mineral department with new improvements. In this regard new Mineral Act has been formulated, online lease licenses system introduced and now all information about the department was available on the department's website.
She said that they were going to upgrade the mineral testing laboratory, while all the data regarding leases was been put on Geological Information System of the department.
The minister added that establishment of Gems and Geological center and Mineral Park in the province were also under consideration. She said Peshawar Torkham Economic Corridor Project will be a milestone for the development of whole region while trade, business activities and tourism would be promoted by the same mega project.