The coal and soapstone exploitation projects in Kurram and Orakzai agencies of the tribal area have been hit by another snag of the release of funds for the projects, reliable sources in mineral sector confided to Business Recorder on Wednesday.
The NWFP Governor's Secretariat for Federally Administered Tribal Areas (Fata) and Pakistan Mineral Development Corporation (PMDC) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for exploitation of coal mining in Kurram Agency and soapstone in Orakzai agency.
The signing of this MoU was followed by another agreement between PMDC and tribal elders of these agencies in August last year.
The PMDC recruited staff and established office in State Life Building Peshawar Cantonment.
The officials of PMDC and Fata administration have been actively pursuing the release of funds. But, due objection raised by the controller of funds on the basis of lack of authorisation launching of work on the projects have been further delayed.
The emergence of these snags has also been confirmed by the reports of the Accountant General of Public Revenue (AGPR).
The government is already facing tribal backlash over the ongoing operation in tribal belt against al Qaeda, Taleban elements and their alleged Pakistani hosts.
The situation emerging in the tribal belt also threatening the development projects in Fata.
According to an official of the PMDC invaluable time has been lost in pre-operational period and technical experts believe that the delay in the release of funds would further undermine the viability of the mining projects.
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