Action against illegal mining: 65-ton mica recovered from Chinese national’s residence in Skardu

SKARDU: The Gilgit-Baltistan government has started action against Chinese citizens involved in illegal mining.

The Minerals Department staff, along with a magistrate and police, recovered 65 tons of mica from the residence of a Chinese national, residing in Skardu city.

The GB administration had directed the Minerals Department to take immediate legal action against the Chinese nationals involved in illegal mining in the region. Acting on the orders, Amjad Hussain, deputy director of the Minerals Department, Baltistan division, along with the area police and a magistrate, conducted a raid at the residence of a Chinese citizen in Skardu town, recovered 65-ton mica and started legal proceedings.

Amjad Hussain said the Chinese citizen was mining without legal documents. However, the Chinese citizen submitted a contract document signed with a local company, to the police.

City Police Station SHO Ghulam Haider said the police had attached the documents given by the Chinese citizen and submitted them to the assistant commissioner of prosecution, Captain Amir. The Chinese national has been released on personal bail.

As per directions of GB Chief Secretary Ibrar Mirza and Provincial Secretary Mineral Department GB the local administration had collected information about involvement of Chinese nationals in illegal mining in the region. On the basis of that information, Deputy Director Minerals was asked to take action against illegal mining. Later on, a raid was conducted on the rented residence of a Chinese national and huge quantity of mica was seized.