Mines & Mineral Bill Fails To Pass Amid Opposition Uproar

The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly was unable to pass the amended Mines and Minerals Bill the other day due to strong objections from the opposition

PESHAWAR, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 12th Aug, 2024) The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly was unable to pass the amended Mines and Minerals Bill the other day due to strong objections from the opposition.

The bill, which aimed to facilitate foreign investment in the mining sector, was met with fierce resistance from opposition members who claimed it would harm local businesses

Opposition members accused the government of trying to shut down local companies and only allow companies registered with the SCCI (Chamber of Commerce) to operate. "This bill is a conspiracy to destroy our local industry," said a opposition leader.

"We will not let the government sell out our resources to foreign companies."

The government argued that the purpose of the bill was to attract foreign investment and create jobs in the province. "We want to bring in foreign companies to invest in our mining sector," said a government spokesperson. "This will create jobs and stimulate economic growth."

Due to the opposition's strong objections, Speaker Babar Saleem Swati directed the government to hold a meeting with parliamentary parties to discuss the bill before proceeding further.