Mine owners reject new mineral policy

PESHAWAR: Frontier Mines Association President Sher Bandi Khan on Thursday rejected Mineral Ordinance 2016, saying that the new policy had no incentives for local and small miners and investors.

Speaking at a news conference at the Peshawar Press Club, Sher Bandi Khan said the new mineral policy of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government would benefit the big companies and investors. “We totally reject the new policy as mine owners were not taken into confidence.

“We will start protest if our suggestions are not entertained,” he warned. Dozens of mine owners and local investors were also present on the occasion.He said that under the new ordinance, the companies could get  2,47,000 acre of land on lease while the areas of small investor and contractors had been reduced from 1000 acre land to 200. “Now a mine would be taken on lease for 30 years, which is against the leasing policy,” he said.

The mines association president said that they had proposed some amendments to the new policy and in this connection held a meeting with provincial minister for Mines and Mineral Aneesa Zeb Tahirkheli.The provincial minister had promised to include their suggestions before passing it from provincial assembly.