PESHAWAR: The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government would announce its mineral policy next week, said Chief Minister Pervez Khattak here on Monday.

Presiding over a meeting, he said that it would be first-ever mineral policy of any province in the country after passage of 18th Amendment. He said that Khyber Pakhtunkhwa would take lead by announcing the mineral policy.

The meeting was also attended by Minister for Mines and Mineral Development Ziaullah Afridi, Adviser to Chief Minister Rafaqatullah Babar, acting Mines Secretary Ghaznfar Kasmi and Principal Secretary of Chief Minister Mohammad Ashfaq Khan.

The meeting reviewed various aspects of the policy including the processes of exploration through scientific way and took some necessary decision in this connection.

The chief minister appreciated the officials and the minister concerned for prevention of illegal excavation of mines and preparation of the policy before the deadline of June 30.

He said that efforts would continue for utilisation of mines in a befitting manner and bringing an end to illegal use of national wealth.

Mr Khattak directed the officials concerned to upload the data of all mineral resources of the province on internet and advertise it through different national and international sources so that investors could be attracted.

He said that attractive incentives would be given to inventors in different sectors to boost economy of the province and create employment opportunities.

Speaking on the occasion, Mr Afridi said that illegal excavation was controlled by round the clock monitoring team.

He said that the department started recovery of millions of rupees from the contractors and companies.

The chief minister on the occasion announced a cash reward of Rs50,000 for the monitoring team and also approved new monitoring team in the new budget on permanent basis.

He said that government believed in reward and punishment policy.

“The government will take stern action against all those found involved in corruption and irregularities so that they could be made a lesson for others,” he said.

Mr Khattak said that rulers in the past made tall claims about exploration of mines but illegal excavations remained continued unabated.

He said that government was fully determined to eradicate the menace of corruption and to develop mines and mineral sector in the province.

The meeting decided to prepare a comprehensive feasibility regarding coal deposits with the help of satellite technology.

Published in Dawn, May 27th, 2014