Govt. Evolves Inclusive Plan To Strengthen Mines, Minerals Sector In KP

The KP Government has evolved an inclusive plan to strengthen mines and minerals sector with special focus on provision of interest free loans to miners for purchase of modern machinery necessary for exploration and increasing production, provision of quality education and health services to their families and children at top institutes of the province.

PESHAWAR, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 7th Dec, 2018 ) :The KP Government has evolved an inclusive plan to strengthen mines and minerals sector with special focus on provision of interest free loans to miners for purchase of modern machinery necessary for exploration and increasing production, provision of quality education and health services to their families and children at top institutes of the province.

The Provincial Government in order to tap rich potential of mines and mineral resources of KP, has embarked upon multifaceted approach to enhance skills of miners for exploration, production, marketing and utilization of latest machinery in digging of mines and avoid its wastage during search and purification process.

Officials in Mines and Minerals Department told APP on Friday that interest free loans would be provided to mining lease holders for mechanization of mining activities for marble and granite in the province.

"Pakistan's marble, gems and granite are preferred choice of exporters in world especially in Gulf and Central Asia States with a potential to generate millions of rupees revenue for national kitty if properly marketed overseas." As per development plan, weigh stations in all potential districts including Manshera, Shangla, Swat, Dir and Chitral would be established and special capacity building program for miners would be launched.

"The first ever mining cadastre system is being introduced in the province, entailing online reporting through automatic way besides determining mineral rights of business community." The official said a mega project had been launched to conduct geological mapping and carve out a map indentifying mineral sites in KP.

The department is working on robust mechanism by introducing a management information system to discourage illegal mining practices and this system would help collect more revenue for provincial kitty.

Govt has allocated a huge amount of Rs401 million for seven projects including Rs354.367 million for five ongoing projects and Rs 46.633 million for two new project for financial year 2018-19.

The KP mineral sector governance act 2016 &2018 and rules made there under have been promulgated whereas online applications have been already started for facilitation of public, businessmen and miners.

The department had recovered Rs 46.466 million on account of excise duty against target of Rs 115 million for 2018-19, the official said and added that over Rs 501.293 million were collected on account of minerals so far, exceeding the total amount accumulated over the same period last year by more than Rs 50 million.

Licensing authority and Mineral Tiles Committee had expedited work on disposal of applications, deciding on a total of 68 applications during first 100 days of PTI Govt.

To quickly addressed people and miners problems, the department has Complaint Cell at Mineral Directorate which had received 16 complaints and that six complaints related to mines had been addressed instantly while remaining had been forwarded to officers concerned for further action.

As many as 11 inquires had been conducted so far and 18 applications had been forwarded to concerned commissioner for compensation, the official said.

Miner are being extended free treatment in 12 well-equipped dispensaries and an advertisement had been published seeking applications from sons of minors or laborers for admissions in medical and engineering colleges.

The advertisement had been published in national dailies for freed education to children under scholarship programme and work centers were being started for free treatment through telemedicine.

The process had been launched for extending scholarships to miners with disabilities besides initiating scholarships for trainee minors.

A total of 451 inspections were conducted on land and deep land mines and implanted act 1923-19(i) on 58 mines, adding a total of 724 mines were registered receiving Rs425000 registration fee.

The official said three training courses had been conducted and enlightened the participants about new techniques in digging and development of mines and mineral imperative to enhance revenue to be used for well being of masses.