PESHAWAR: The first mines and mineral policy of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government will be formally launched during a ceremony on Monday (July 7) in Peshawar where Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf chairman Imran Khan will be the chief guest.

It was revealed during a meeting held with Chief Minister Pervez Khattak in the chair at the CM Secretariat here on Thursday. Provincial Minister for Mineral Development Ziaullah Afridi, secretary mines and mineral development Mian Waheeduddin and other relevant officials were also present.

According to a handout, the chief minister said that the taskforce and department officials had worked hard to chalk out a comprehensive provincial mineral policy. He said that by launching the first mineral policy from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, the province would take a lead over other provinces.

He said that this unique policy was inclusive in all respects that carried new trends while small- and large-scale mining will be encouraged for the first time. Besides this, attractive incentives would be announced for foreign investment.

Mr Khattak said that phasing out of explosives in the mining sector and using latest technology in exploration of mines would open new vistas of mineral development in the province.

He said that the environment-friendly mining policy would ensure health and training facilities for the mining labour while a specific portion of the income would be spent on the welfare of local community.

Published in Dawn, July 4th, 2014