KP cabinet approves grand operation against illegal gold mining in Indus River

PESHAWAR: The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) cabinet has approved a large-scale operation against illegal gold mining in the Indus River. The grand operation targets unauthorised mining activities in the districts of Swabi, Nowshera, and Kohat.

Also read: KP floods leave 386 dead, cause Rs20bn losses

Officials from the Mineral Development Department have confirmed that illegal gold extraction has been taking place for several years in designated blocks (identified as A, B, C, and D), along the Indus River in these districts. Authorities said that the activity has caused financial losses to the provincial treasury and contributed to environmental degradation.

According to departmental records, a total of 1,298 First Information Reports (FIRs) have been registered in connection with illegal mining. The breakdown includes 167 FIRs in Swabi, 430 in Nowshera, and 701 in Kohat. So far, a total of Rs 8.8 million has been collected in fines but the illegal mining activity continues.

Now the provincial government has decided to put a stop to it once and for all. The decision to launch the operation was finalised during a high-level meeting chaired by KP Secretary Mineral Development. Commissioners of Peshawar, Mardan, and Kohat divisions, along with the Director General of Minerals, also attended the meeting. The administrations of all three targeted districts have been tasked with implementing the operation.

In a related development, Chairman of the National Accountability Bureau (NAB), Lieutenant General (Retd) Nazir Ahmed, has raised concerns over the low reserve value of gold mining contracts worth Rs 4.92 billion in the Indus River. He has directed the provincial government to review these contracts.

Also read: NAB launches probe into WB-funded education project in KP

Sources in the Mineral Development Department report that gold mining blocks have been identified in both the Indus and Kabul Rivers. A total of 17 blocks have been located, out of which 14 are in the Indus River and three are in the Kabul River, and all of them are spread across Swabi, Nowshera, Kohat, DI Khan, Charsadda, and Peshawar districts.