The National Accountability Bureau (NAB) has raised serious concerns about irregularities in placer gold mining projects in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. According to NAB’s findings, the province may have suffered losses worth trillions of rupees because of faulty auction processes and unlawful practices in the mining sector.
The Bureau pointed out that the minimum auction prices for gold blocks located along the Indus and Kabul rivers were intentionally set too low, which caused major financial losses. It was also reported that some leaseholders violated rules by subletting their mining rights and demanding extremely high weekly fees from excavators working on these sites.
Although the provincial government has maintained that all auctions were carried out transparently, NAB’s documents suggest otherwise. The records show that key provisions of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Auction Rules 2022 were ignored. Geological studies were not properly considered, and planned surveys were either delayed or stopped altogether, raising further questions about the credibility of the process.
In addition to financial mismanagement, there are also serious environmental and legal issues. Reports mention the use of mercury in mining activities, which is highly dangerous for the environment and human health. Unlicensed mining operations were also identified, and many projects reportedly began without obtaining mandatory approvals from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
These findings suggest that poor oversight and violations of rules not only caused a huge economic loss to the province but also put the environment and local communities at risk.
Disclaimer: This post is for informational purposes only and does not reflect the personal views, opinions, or political position of the publisher.
