Semi-Mechanized mining techniques are being introduced to get early results:Ch. Sher Ali Khan

Lahore: Chief Minister Punjab Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif has constituted a high-level Steering Committee under the chairmanship of Minister Mines & Minerals Ch. Sher Ali Khan for restructuring the Mines & Minerals Department to strengthen regulatory framework, promote marketing of minerals and investment-friendly culture in the department.

Minister Finance Dr. Aisha Ghaus Pasha, MPA Nazar Hussain Gondal, Addl. Chief Secretary, Chairman P&D, Addl. Chief Secretary (Energy), Secretaries of Mines and Minerals, Law, Finance, Industries and Secretary Regulations are the members of the Steering Committee.

The TORs of the committee shall be to prepare and present a holistic plan for smooth transition from the current department mode to the company and authority mode in the Mines & Mineral Sector with a view to give it a modern, market & investment friendly along with research & development oriented outlook. Moreover, the committee shall present its recommendations for readjustment and reorientation of technical and non-technical human resource with a special focus on capacity building and maximizing output. It will also ensure reinforcing vertical and horizontal linkage within the sectors and allied sectors with a view to attract foreign investment in mineral extraction and development along with improving and modernizing mining practices.

The Committee shall propose a mechanism to strengthen regulatory framework for curbing monopolistic tendencies, lease management and ensuring healthy and safe mining environment including miners’ welfare. The committee shall hold regular meetings and present its recommendations to Chief Minister Punjab.

The first meeting of this Steering Committee held today under the Chairmanship of Minister Mines & Minerals Ch. Sher Ali Khan in Committee Room of Board of Revenue Department. MPA, Nazar Hussain Gondal, ACS Syed Mubasher Raza, ACS(Energy) Jahanzaib Khan, Secretary Mines & Minerals Dr. Arshad Mahmood, Secretary Industries Nasim Sadiq and representatives of concerned departments attended the meeting.

Secretary Mines Dr. Arshad Mahmood while briefing the meeting about the purpose of the committee, told that after exploration of iron and copper ore worth trillion of rupees from Chiniot Rajwa reservoirs and extraction of coal to make functional Coal Power Plants to meet the present energy crisis in Punjab, modernization of Mining Sector has become need of the hour. Therefore, an interprovincial workshop would be conducted to seek suggestions from all stakeholders including professionals for restructuring of the department, he further told.

Dr. Arshad Mahmood told that Punjab Government is going to introduce Semi-Mechanized mining techniques to get early results. Minister Mines Ch. Sher Ali Khan said that minerals are our prestigious assets and government of the Punjab is utilizing its all resources to modernize its mining system to enhance investment in this sector in view of economic growth.