Peshawar: The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Government has leased out 135 mines in tribal areas and generated PKR 501.2 million in revenue, a news source quoted Minister for Mines and Mineral Development Dr Amjad Ali. He said that the department had taken administrative control of all mines in the erstwhile Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA).
He said the revenue for the current fiscal year exceeded the total amount over the same period last year by more than PKR 50 million. He added that the department generated PKR 46.46 million in excise duty collection against a given target of PKR 115 million.
The minister said the department was taking necessary steps to improve safety conditions for miners. To this effect, a bill pertaining to amendments in the Mines Act 1923 will soon be tabled before the cabinet for approval.
The department has also established a complaint cell in the minerals directorate. So far, it has received 16 complaints out of which six have been resolved.
