Punjab To Spend Rs 393 Bln On Minerals Development

LAHORE, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 2nd August, 2016) : Provincial Minister for Mines & Minerals Ch. Sher Ali Khan has said the Punjab government has allocated Rs 393 million in the Annual Development Budget 2016-17 for the promotion of mines and minerals exploration, welfare of mine workers and their capacity-building.

The Minister while reviewing the pace of progress on the different development schemes being completed under ADP said that Rs 115.211 million were allocated for new schemes while Rs.237.789 million were reserved for the ongoing schemes under the ADP. He said that leftover works of Mines Labour Workers Girls Higher Secondary School, Silanwali, Sargodha will be completed at a total cost of Rs 34.968 million, Short Term Skills Development Project under Chief Minister Skills Development Initiative would be completed at a total cost of Rs 160.612 million, whereas rehabilitation of Training Mine for Mine Supervisors and Mining Technicians Katas, Choa Sadan Shah, Chakwal would be completed with Rs 90.914 million.

The Minister apprised the meeting that strengthening work of Mine Sample Testing Laboratory Khushab will be done at a total cost of Rs 80.

682 million. The meeting was informed that according to the ongoing schemes, establishment of Mines Rescue & Safety Area Sub Station Ara Bashart, Chakwal will be completed at a total cost of Rs 78.709 million.

Mines & Minerals Department has completed the extension work of Punjab Schools of Mines Katas last year including up-gradation of Mine Rescue & Safety Sub Station Choa Saden Shah, strengthening of Central Mines Rescue & Safety Station Khushab and up-gradation of Mine Rescue & Safety Sub Station Makarwal, Mianwali, the Minister added.

The participants was told that Chief Inspectorate of Mines conducted 1218 inspections of different mines throughout the province while 1098 prosecutions lodged and Rs 181,000 were recovered as fine.

The Department gave admissions to 141 students for three years diploma programme in Punjab school of Mines Katas whereas 48 students for two years certificate courses admitted in Mines Survey Institute Makarwal last year. The department also disbursed Rs.11.336 million among 3394 children of mine workers as stipend during the year 2015-16.