Directorate of Mines and Minerals: KP abolishes discretionary powers of officials to restore investor confidence

The provincial government of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa abolished the discretionary powers of the officials of the Directorate of Mine and Minerals to promote transparency and restore the confidence of local and foreign investors. This was stated by the Chief Minister Khyber Pakhtukhwa, Pervez Khattak while briefing media regarding the salient features of the Mineral Development and Regulations Ordinance promulgated by the provincial government.
Senior Minister for Irrigation and Social Welfare, Sikandar Hayat Sherpao, Provincial Minister for Mineral Development, Anisa Zeb Tahirkheli, Advisor to CM on Information, Mushtaq Ahmad Ghani and senior authorities of the Mineral Department were also present on the occasion.
The chief minister said under the ordinance a Minerals Investment and Facilitation Authority (MIFA) headed by the provincial minister will also be established. He said that besides, chairman, standing committee of the provincial assembly on minerals development one member each from both treasury and opposition benches will also be included in the authority.
The chief minister said that the committee will also play the role of Appellate Authority. He said that in the past all these powers were entrusted in the office of Secretary of the Department, but the present provincial government devised an strategy on international pattern to restore the confidence of investors. He said that a Mineral Titles Committee would be constituted under the chairmanship of the Secretary Minerals to decide leases of different categories and ownership rights.
For guaranteeing transparency, the chief minister said that online licensing was being introduced and in this connection a website of mineral department was also being inaugurated. Under the new law, maximum time period of lease has been fixed at 30 years.