KP governor announces suspension of gold mining, cancellation of leases across province

PESHAWAR: Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Governor Faisal Karim Kundi on Saturday announced the immediate suspension of gold mining activities across the province and the cancellation of all existing gold mining leases, citing widespread illegal mining, alleged links between mining operators and terrorists, and billions of rupees in losses to the national exchequer.

Addressing a press conference on gold mining, its legal aspects and action taken against illegal activities, the governor said approximately 90 kilogrammes of gold were being extracted from two mining blocks in Kohat every month.

He claimed that illegal mining was generating around Rs4.2 billion to Rs4.92 billion monthly, while nearly 80 per cent of the extracted gold was being smuggled to Afghanistan.

Kundi said the provincial government would ensure that mineral resources were used through legal channels and warned that strict action would be taken against those involved in illegal mining.

Announcing the decision, the governor said gold mining operations across Khyber Pakhtunkhwa were being suspended with immediate effect and all gold mining leases were being cancelled.

He warned contractors to remove their heavy machinery from mining sites within one week and directed machinery owners to withdraw their equipment from gold mining operations.

He said the government would not return machinery once enforcement operations began.

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Kundi also announced that a comprehensive plan to establish a permanent mechanism for regulating gold mining would be prepared within two to three weeks.

He said the government hoped to introduce a complete system and resume operations under a regulated framework within the same period.

Giving details of the scale of illegal mining, Kundi said thousands of heavy machinery were being used in two mining blocks in Kohat.

According to figures shared by the governor, the operations involved 8,350 tractors, 3,660 excavators and 1,600 dumpers.

He said between 49,000 and 51,000 labourers were working in mining activities in Kohat, while illegal mining was generating approximately Rs4.92 billion every month.

The governor further stated that around 80 per cent of the money generated through illegal mining was going to Afghanistan.

He said that Fitna al-Khawarij were receiving weekly extortion payments from those involved in illegal mining, with local operators being charged up to Rs800,000 and non-local operators up to Rs4 million.

Kundi also said that militants had attacked police personnel during operations against illegal mining.

The governor announced the formation of a special task force named after martyred DSP Haider Zaman to take action against illegal mining.

He said the task force would include representatives from relevant institutions, the Mines and Minerals Department and district administrations.

He also announced the establishment of a judicial commission next week, to be headed by a sitting High Court judge, to investigate illegal mining activities and identify those involved.

Kundi said the commission would examine the alleged irregularities in mining licences, adding that licences had previously been distributed without proper scrutiny.

He warned that individuals involved in illegal activities would face legal consequences and said cases would be registered against those conducting mining without valid leases.

The governor also criticised magistrates for imposing fines of only Rs28,000 to Rs30,000 on those involved in illegal mining, saying the authorities would now impose fines amounting to hundreds of thousands of rupees.

During the press conference, Kundi named several political figures whom he said were involved in or backing illegal mining activities.

Among those he named were PTI leaders Aftab Alam, Shehryar Afridi, Khurram Zeeshan and Sajid Iqbal.

He also mentioned Ehsan, Amjad Afridi, JUI-F’s Seth Gohar Saifullah and Naseer Afridi, along with Naveed, the brother of former chief minister Sohail Afridi.

Other names mentioned by the governor included Azhar Bukhari, Nazir Afridi, Nasir Qureshi, Naeem and Faheem, as well as individuals associated with the Zarmeen Khan group.

He further alleged that illegal mining operators had links with militant groups and said those responsible for attacks on police personnel would face zero tolerance.

He questioned how a ten-year lease involving gold reserves worth billions of rupees could be granted for Rs4.92 billion, describing the arrangement as a loss to national resources.