PESHAWAR: (Report by Fatima Jafar)
An emergency meeting of the Chitral Mines and Minerals Association was held at the association’s office at 11:00 AM, chaired by President Mr. Liaquat. The meeting, attended by 15 core committee members, undertook detailed deliberations on the following:
- The ongoing ban on mining in the Ursoon (Lower Chitral) area.
- The enforcement of forced sworn statements from leaseholders not to mine.
- The resulting challenges caused by these actions.
Members expressed concerns that despite the prolonged regional conflict, Chitral has historically been free from terrorist activities. They highlighted that the border area is now secure and actively guarded by strong forces. They argued that closing business and employment opportunities in otherwise peaceful areas could bolster the ambitions of adversaries. As an example, they pointed out that despite the 40-year Cold War between Afghanistan, Russia, and America (from 1979 to 2020), Chitral remained peaceful despite its proximity to the conflict. The emergence of a stable government in Afghanistan further highlights the region’s capacity to remain unaffected by prolonged regional tensions.
Currently, a peaceful and sustainable government has been established in Afghanistan, where mining activities are proceeding smoothly. Chinese investors have invested millions of dollars in the Afghan mining sector and are actively overseeing operations.
The current situation in Chitral, with the non-renewal of EL-04 licenses under the guise of security risks, has led to significant apprehension within the mining community. Leaseholders and investors are deeply concerned, and there is widespread public anxiety due to the resulting business closures.
Historically, there has never been an incident of explosives being smuggled to Afghanistan or elsewhere from Chitral. Given this track record, banning mining on security grounds, along with the non-issuance of NOCs and cancellation of gunpowder licenses, is seen as incomprehensible. Additionally, there is no requirement for a working NOC elsewhere in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province. Furthermore, the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Mineral Act does not require NOCs from any authority.
The granted leases in Ursoon (Lower Chitral) and the border areas are located in protected and secured zones away from the border. Leaseholders have invested billions of rupees in developing these mines, including constructing access roads and delivering machinery. Even if mining activities are halted, leaseholders are obligated to pay Rs 5,000 per hour for the use of heavy machinery according to their agreements. The ban on mining has led to leaseholders incurring daily losses amounting to millions of rupees. They are forced to pay for their labor without compensation.
Due to Chitral’s climatic and geographical conditions, mining can only be conducted from May to October. Unfortunately, mining operations have been halted during this critical season for the past two years.
All members unanimously passed a resolution demanding that the District Administration:
- Immediately lift the mining ban.
- Issue NOCs.
- Renew EL-04 licenses.
They also collectively requested the Army Chief and the Corps Commander Peshawar to:
- Ensure that EL-04 licenses and NOCs are granted to Chitral district leaseholders.
- Remove the ban on mining in the border areas with existing leases.
