LAHORE
CHIEF Minister Shahbaz Sharif has constituted a steering committee under the chairmanship of Mines and Minerals Minister Ch Sher Ali Khan for restructuring the Mines and Minerals Department to strengthen regulatory framework, promote marketing of minerals and investment-friendly culture in the department.
Finance Minister Dr Aisha Ghaus Pasha, MPA Nazar Hussain Gondal, additional chief secretary, P&D chairman, additional chief secretary (Energy), secretaries of Mines and Minerals, Law, Finance, Industries and secretary Regulations are the members of the steering committee.
The TORs of the committee shall prepare and present a holistic plan for smooth transition from the current department mode to the company and authority mode in the mines and mineral sector with a view to giving it a modern, market and investment-friendly along with research & development oriented outlook. The committee shall present its recommendations for readjustment and reorientation of technical and non-technical human resource with a special focus on capacity building and maximising output.
It will also ensure reinforcing vertical and horizontal linkage within the sectors and allied sectors with a view to attracting foreign investment in mineral extraction and development along with improving and modernising mining practices.
The committee shall
propose a mechanism to strengthen regulatory framework for curbing monopolistic tendencies, lease
management and ensuring healthy and safe mining environment including miners’ welfare. The committee shall hold regular meetings and present its recommendations to the CM.
The first meeting of the committee held under Mines and Minerals Minister Ch Sher Ali Khan in the committee room of Board of
Revenue Department.
MPA Nazar Hussain Gondal, ACS Syed Mubasher Raza, ACS (Energy) Jahanzaib Khan, Secretary Mines and Minerals Dr Arshad Mahmood, Secretary Industries Nasim Sadiq and representatives of the
departments concerned attended the meeting. Secretary Mines Dr Arshad Mahmood briefed the
meeting.
An inter-provincial workshop would be conducted to seek suggestions from all stakeholders including professionals for restructuring of the department, he added. Dr Arshad Mahmood said the Punjab government was going to introduce semi-mechanised mining techniques to get early results.
Minister Ch Sher Ali Khan said: “Minerals are our prestigious assets and the Punjab government is utilising all resources to modernise its mining system to enhance investment in this sector in view of economic growth.”