Mines excavating precious stones in forest land shutdown

MANSEHRA: The chairman of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly’s Standing Committee on Natural Resources and Minerals, Akram Ghazi, on Tuesday said that the government had shut down around three dozen mines, excavating precious stones from forest land throughout the province.

“The government has initiated a crackdown through its relevant agencies to take action and shut down all mines excavating granite and other minerals from forests in the province,” the MPA told reporters in Oghi.

He added that the government was committed to protecting forests and has completely banned deforestation and timber transportation.“Illegal mining has also damaged natural resources and the environment, which is why a crackdown against such illegal activities has been launched across the province,” Ghazi said.

He added that illegal mining activities were also occurring in the district, and those operations have been shut down with punitive actions initiated against illegal excavators.“The government has been working on a comprehensive strategy to address these issues,” he said.

“I have been striving to secure an adequate share of royalties for Oghi and other tehsils of our Mansehra district, where natural resources are being excavated and transported to other parts of the country,” he added. He added that the royalties obtained from minerals would be spent on public welfare, roads, and other infrastructure damaged due to mining and its transportation.