Elders want NOC issued to leaseholders for mining in Chitral

CHITRAL: The residents of Banjal Arsoon on Monday asked the government to issue a non-objection certificate to the leaseholders for all kinds of mining in their area.

Speaking at a press conference, the elders, including Maulana Samiullah, Muhammad Hakim, Muhammad Ghafoor, Abdul Samad, Khan Zarin and others said that the Banjal Arsoon area was replete with various kinds of minerals. They said that the government should issue NOC to the leaseholders so that they could start mining activities in the area.

“There is a vast potential of minerals but the ban is hampering mining to harvest these valuable minerals,” an elder said, adding that mining should be allowed for the sake of the development of the area and the prosperity of people.

He said that the security situation had improved and no person could carry out subversive acts in the area due to its geographical position.Elders of the area said that the area was underdeveloped and poverty-stricken due to its remoteness, but the initiation of mining activities would have a positive impact on the local populace and the overall economy.

They said employment opportunities would be created and leaseholders would have access to their mining sites. A network of roads would also be laid They added that the leaseholders would construct a dispensary and a school in the area besides providing an ambulance for them under a formal agreement with the local people. They urged the government that given the backwardness of the area and the poverty of the people, it should immediately issue NOC to the leaseholders and allow them to start mining work.