Experts say minerals bill undermines provincial autonomy

PESHAWAR: The legal and governance experts at a seminar on Tuesday termed the proposed Mines and Minerals Bill 2025 a violation of provincial rights and urged the federal government to respect constitutional boundaries and protect the economic rights of the federating units.

Organised by the Pabbi Intellectual Forum, the seminar was chaired by psychiatrist Dr Mian Iftikhar and addressed by former senator Farhatullah Babar, former vice chancellor Dr Noor Jehan and Awami National Party leader Maulana Khan Zaib.

The seminar was convened to generate debate on key national issues, where participants expressed concern that the bill would centralise decision-making, bypass provincial jurisdiction and create confusion over mineral ownership and classification.

The speakers warned that the draft law was undermining provincial autonomy by enabling the federal government’s control over natural resources in violation of the Constitution.They argued that the bill contravened Articles 97, 158, 161, and 172 of the Constitution, which defined provincial ownership and priority rights over natural resources. Particular concern was raised over vague definitions of rare earth minerals and the proposed establishment of a federal Mineral Investment Facilitation Authority, which would usurp powers constitutionally assigned to provinces.