PESHAWAR: Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Governor Faisal Karim Kundi announced a province-wide mining ban on Saturday and cancelled gold mining leases. He gave leaseholders and contractors a week to remove heavy machinery.
Speaking at a press conference alongside senior provincial officials, Kundi warned of strict action against anyone who continued mining in breach of the restrictions.
His announcement covered all mining activities across the province, while the lease cancellations specifically concerned gold extraction.
Kundi linked the action to an operation against alleged illegal gold mining at Darabo Kach, near Kohat. Police had previously identified provincial police and the local civil administration as the bodies conducting that operation.
According to the governor, militants attacked police personnel as they returned from the operation. He accused mining operators of paying the attackers extortion money in exchange for protection.
Kundi announced approval for a task force named after Deputy Superintendent of Police Haidar Zaman, who was killed. He also announced a judicial commission to investigate illegal gold mining and the Kohat incident.
Turning to extraction in the district, the governor identified two mineral blocks, C and D. He claimed operators used 8,350 tractors, tractor-trolleys, 1,730 heavy dumpers, and labourers for illegal mining.
Monthly gold extraction from the area amounted to approximately 90 kilogrammes, worth Rs4.2 billion, according to Kundi. He contrasted that value with a 10-year mining lease granted for Rs4.92 billion.
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Kundi alleged that approximately 80% of the money generated went to Afghanistan and financed terrorism and activities against Pakistan. He claimed the operations caused losses of billions of rupees to the national exchequer.
“We will not allow anyone to plunder our resources,” he said.
Separately, Kundi accused 12 political figures of providing backing in connection with the Kohat incident. Among those he named were former provincial minister Aftab Alam, Shehryar Afridi, Khurram Zeeshan, Sajid Iqbal and Naveed, whom he identified as the brother of a former chief minister.
Kundi clarified that authorities had registered no first information reports against those individuals. He pledged action against anyone the judicial inquiry found involved.
