Sindh chief secy orders crackdown on illegal sand and gravel mining

Karachi: Sindh Chief Secretary Syed Asif Hyder Shah on Thursday ordered stringent measures against illegal sand and gravel mining business in the province.

Officials said the chief secretary presided over a meeting to discuss and implement stringent measures against the illegal sand and gravel mining businesses in the province.

The meeting was attended by Karachi Commissioner Syed Hassan Naqvi, Additional IG Karachi Javed Alam Odho, Mines and Minerals Secretary Tahir Hussain Sangi, Malir Deputy Commissioner Irfan Salam, Malir SSP Kashif Abbasi and others.

The chief secretary said strict action should be taken against individuals involved in the illegal sand and gravel mining business. He instructed the deputy commissioner and SSP to take immediate action.

The meeting also reviewed the Sindh Mines and Minerals Governance Act 2021 and its rules, which include provisions for establishing a dedicated mines and minerals force and outline its jurisdiction and authority. Under the Section 27 of the Act, illegal mining was initially a non-cognisable offence but was later declared a cognisable offense on November 14, 2023. Shah stressed the need for establishing special courts to expedite legal proceedings against illegal mining. In this regard, the law department has approached the registrar of the Sindh High Court.