ANP says no to amendments to law on mines, minerals

PESHAWAR: Awami National Party (ANP) on Friday opposed the proposed amendments to Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Mines and Minerals Act 2025 and termed it a step towards handing over provincial resources to national and multi-nationals firms and entities.

Speaking at a news conference at Bacha Khan Markaz here, ANP provincial President Mian Iftikhar Hussain said that the proposed amendments to the Mines and Minerals Bill was reportedly drafted by two American consultants. He added that a comprehensive Mines and Minerals Act 2017 already existed in the province.

He was flanked by ANP provincial general secretary Hussain Shah Yusufzai and provincial senior vice president Syed Aqil Shah and other ANP leaders.Mian Iftikhar claimed that the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Mines and Minerals Department had pointed out about 73 objections to the proposed Bill while the Mines Minerals Association had also questioned many of the amendments to the proposed legislation.

“Even some of the ruling party members have opposed the proposed amendments to the 2025 Act but the provincial cabinet approved the controversial Bill in haste and presented it in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly,” Mian Iftikhar said.

He added that the proposed Mines and Minerals Act was against the spirit of the 18th Amendment.Mian Iftikhar Hussain said the local people, companies, mine owners and lease holders had the rights to control and invest in the mines and minerals generated in their areas but under the proposed amendments huge amounts would be deposited as security or guarantee money to get lease and contract of local mines in the province.

The ANP leader said that his party would not remain silent spectator over the handing over of the provincial resources to others and said that mines and natural resources found and discovered in Waziristan and other southern districts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa had already been exploited by some entities and institutions for the last many years.

“The current PTI-led government wants to shift its power over its own resources to some federal and foreign entities,” he added.Mian Iftikhar said the PTI government was interested in the release of an individual and so it had agreed to amend the law on mines and minerals, saying that the ANP would oppose such a move and get in touch with other political parties in a bid to protect the rights and resources of the province.