Chitral (Khyber Mail): An emergency meeting of the Chitral Mines and Minerals Association was held at the office of the association in Ayun, chaired by the association’s patron-in-chief, Mr. Liaqat. The meeting was attended by 15 core committee members of the association.
The meeting focused on the ban on mining in the Arsoon area and the requirement for leaseholders to submit affidavits stating they would not engage in mining activities. The members discussed the implications of this ban in detail.
The members highlighted that despite decades of continuous war in neighboring regions, Chitral has remained peaceful, with no incidents of terrorism or refugee influx. They emphasized that the completion of border fencing and the deployment of brave armed forces have made the border completely secure. They argued that closing business and employment opportunities in such exemplary peaceful areas would only serve the enemy’s interests.
The members pointed out that despite the long-standing war in Afghanistan, Chitral remained peaceful and free from any infiltration or interference. They noted that with the establishment of a stable government in Afghanistan, mining activities are thriving, with Chinese investors investing millions of dollars and overseeing mining operations. However, in Chitral, the renewal of the 04-EL license is being delayed under the pretext of security risks, causing significant concerns among leaseholders and investors, leading to widespread unrest among the public.
The members stressed that there has never been an incident of explosives provided to leaseholders being smuggled to Afghanistan or any other part of the country. They questioned the rationale behind banning mining, canceling NOCs, and revoking explosive licenses under the guise of security. They noted that Chitral is the only district in KP where such restrictions are imposed, despite the fact that the approved leases in Arsoon and other border areas are located several kilometers away from the border in secure areas.
The members highlighted that leaseholders have invested millions of rupees in constructing roads and transporting machinery to these areas. Even if mining is halted, leaseholders are contractually obligated to pay Rs. 5,000 per hour for heavy machinery. The ban on mining is causing daily losses of millions of rupees to leaseholders, who are also forced to pay their workers’ salaries without any work, resulting in irreparable financial damage.
Due to Chitral’s climatic and geographical conditions, mining can only be conducted from May to October. Unfortunately, for the past two years, efforts have been made to halt work during this season, which is highly regrettable.
All members unanimously passed a resolution calling on the district administration and the MI department to immediately lift the ban on mining and issue NOCs. They also demanded the immediate issuance of 04-EL licenses to leaseholders to alleviate the current unrest in Chitral and provide employment opportunities to hundreds of people.
The Mines and Minerals Association, along with the people of Chitral, unanimously urged the Army Chief and the Corps Commander Peshawar KP to immediately lift the suspension of explosive licenses (04-EL), drilling NOCs, and the ban on lease areas near the border.