Staff Correspondent
PESHAWAR: The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Mine Owners Association has opposed the proposed issuance of mining leases to companies in Chitral, raising concerns over alleged investigations, unpaid government dues and the rights of local investors.
Association president Mohiuddin Sani said local residents and investors should have priority over Chitral’s mineral resources and urged the provincial government to ensure that no company facing serious legal or financial issues is granted a mining lease without proper scrutiny.
He alleged that a company being considered for mining leases in Chitral owed around $945,000 in government dues, reportedly linked to penalties imposed between 2014 and 2026.
The association also raised allegations of illegal mining and the smuggling of minerals, particularly antimony, to China, and called for the claims to be thoroughly investigated.
Sani further claimed that several applications submitted by local residents for mining leases in Chitral had been cancelled without clear reasons. He also questioned the creation of new mineral blocks and the alleged use of the name of the Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission in the process.
The mine owners’ association has called for a comprehensive inquiry into the allocation of mining leases and urged authorities to protect the rights of Chitral’s local communities and investors.
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