The Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Resources has put forward a proposal to the Cabinet Division for creation of 'minerals division', instead of 'directorate of minerals' within the Ministry, to explore the full natural resources potential and attract investment in the sector.
Sources in the Ministry told Business Recorder on Wednesday that a separate 'minerals division' was needed because the government was focussing on production and exploration of oil and gas.
Although the Ministry has the 'Directorate General' for development of minerals, it is not serving the purpose. Therefore, the Ministry wants to convert the Minerals Directorate into a full-fledged 'Division', sources said.
'Minerals' is a provincial subject, and the provinces regulate and issue licences for development of mines, but a full-fledged 'Division' in the Federal Ministry would help the provinces to focus more on minerals development, which are either ignored or need more patronage from the public sector for exploration, said another official in the Ministry.
The move would not only help the government to streamline matters relating to the minerals sector but would also benefit local and international firms already exploring or planning to explore mineral resources in various parts of the country, he said.
Currently, the 'mineral resources wing' comprises one Director General, two Directors and two Deputy Directors along with auxiliary staff, and its main functions are to frame and update national minerals policy and its implementation by federal and provincial agencies.
Periodic review of available geological data and publication of its annotated bibliography provide support to provinces, to improve their regulatory laws and institutions for making them internationally competitive, are also among the responsibilities of this 'wing'.
At the same time, facilitating interaction of foreign private mining investors with various federal and provincial regulatory agencies and to provide inputs for formulation of plans for mineral sector (five-year plans) in consultation with the provincial governments is also in the mandate of this wing.
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