PESHAWAR: The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Mines and Minerals Bill, 2025, has stirred up a firestorm of criticism, with PTI founder Imran Khan’s sister Aleema Khan calling for putting the proposed legislation on hold.
The criticism, which came mostly from the ruling PTI’s leaders and social media activists, was so harsh that Chief Minister Ali Amin Khan Gandapur had to put out a statement on Tuesday night, dismissing “rumours and misconceptions” regarding the proposed amendments.
Aleema Khan told reporters in Rawalpindi on Tuesday that there had been huge public uproar over the bill, so the government should not table it in the assembly until PTI founder Imran Khan approved it after release from jail.
The bill, which was tabled in the provincial assembly on April 4, was ripped apart by both ruling and opposition lawmakers.
Aleema calls for putting bill on hold; CM rejects ‘rumours and misconceptions’
Shakeel Ahmad, a former minister, asked the law minister not to table the bill.
“If we make this mistake on someone’s behalf, our future generations will never forgive us,” he said, requesting the government to disown the Special Investment Facilitation Council.
Mr Ahmad alleged that the powers that be was a major shareholder in SIFC, with five companies made by it for mines and minerals, agriculture, tourism, oil and gas sectors.
The bill recommended the establishment of licensing and exploration sections at the directorate of the mines and minerals directorate as well as a mines and mineral force in the province.
Though the bill provides for the protection of landowner rights and training and other opportunities for the local communities, it is silent about if those communities are to receive any share from the mining operations in their respective areas.
However, it was the role of the federal mining wing, an entity of the energy ministry in the proposed legislation, which raised a few eyebrows, as the mining sector is a provincial subject in light of the 18th Constitutional Amendment.
Sub-section (i) of the bill’s Section 6, which deals with powers and functions of licensing authority, stated, “The authority shall implement recommendations of the mineral investment facilitation authority and may implement suggestions of the federal mineral wing in relation to powers and functions of the licensing authority.”
Section 19 provides for the mineral investment facilitation authority (MIFA) but, unlike the existing KP Mines and Mineral Act, 2017, the composition of this authority has been changed in the proposed law. The authority has seven members with the provincial mines and minerals development minister being its head.
However, the bill suggested increasing the number of members to 14, with the induction of five provincial ministers. In addition, Section 19(3) empowers the chairperson to invite any person as a co-opted member.
