KP Minister for Mineral Development, Anisa Zeb Tahirkheli on Friday said that provincial government has introduced new Mineral Act to discourage illegal mining and ensuring effective role of Mineral department. She expressed these views while presiding over a meeting regarding new Mineral Act 2016. Representatives of mines owners association, Director General Mineral Development, Director Planning, Chief Commissioner Mines and other relevant officials attended the meeting.
The minister said that four model check posts were being established in KP province that were equipped with latest facilities including machine readable chalan book for ensuring collection of royalty in a smooth way. She said establishment of Mineral Bank was under consideration while a cell to conduct mechanised blasting would also be established in the future. She also constituted a joint committee of mines owners and Mineral department under the chair of Director Planning Syed Bilal Khusro to review the Act.