Sustainably deteriorating, environmentally hazardous and echo destructive mining industry of Pakistan needs governance initiatives.
The United Nations Environmental Assembly has already adopted a resolution in the year 2019 on “Mineral Resource Governance” that inter alia request the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) to collect information on sustainable practices, identify knowledge gaps, options for implementation strategies and undertake an overview of existing assessments of different governance initiatives and approaches on sustainable management of metal and mineral resources.
In this context the International Resource Panel and UN environmental Programme have already conducted detailed assessments on global scale consequently identifying major issues and accordingly have submitted their recommendations addressing the analyses of current state of mineral resources governance and sustainable management of metal and mineral resources. On the basis of key findings they have particularly emphasized on infrastructure development in the mining areas, capacity building, tailing-management, harmonization of governance parameters, artisanal & small scale mining, mine waste disposal (recycling, reuse and circularity), mine closure plans and national level governance. ?
The said resolution already recommended to be implemented globally is in the pipe line that has to be adopted by Pakistan as member Country. Undoubtedly its implementation shall bring a new life to the Pakistan’s dilapidated mineral industry where any promulgated federal mining law is non-existent. It will be of great help in boosting up of mineral exploration, development & mining on scientific lines, conservation of mineral resources, cessation of illegal mining, contributing safety measures for the protection of environment, uplift of local community’s social fabric etc. All the aforementioned factors at the moment are governed at respective provincial levels through disorderly and turbulent mining regulations in such styles that not only cause short-circuiting ?the mineral development but sustainably promoting cherry picking mining of mineral commodities by the local mining entrepreneurs even sometimes through the financial support of invisible foreign investors that eventually cause generation of illicit money through smuggling out of various mineral commodities out of Pakistan. There has been some reported allegations in the near past of even involvement of some terrorist groups in illegal mining.
领英推荐
At the moment it’s all over with the mineral industry in Pakistan at least in its legislation regime and accordingly governance by the respective federating units as the federal government does not shoulder any responsibility on the pretext of “Mineral being the provincial subject as provided in the constitution of Pakistan”. Whereas in the Provinces it is entirely being regulated by the respective elites through twisting the already available so called mining regulations according to their vested interests.
In the light of foregoing it is high time for Pakistan to take proactive measures by addressing all the major issues according to the recommendations of the Resource Panel and UNEP recommendations beforehand that will certainly bring the level of Pakistan Mineral’s industry at par with the international standards. Immediate steps to be taken in this context are promulgation of a Mining Law of Pakistan, standardization of Mining agreements for all mining leases already granted and future grant of Mining leases only for identified and measured reserves as per international standards. Grant of exploration licenses may be kept restricted up to indicated and inferred reserves as indicated via titled image.
A Committee of high caliber multisector professionals remained associated with mining industry at National level should be given the task to prepare the subject documents in accordance with the UNEA resolution. In this context, the Committee, if need arises, may also be authorized to get invigorated from the relevant experts of the UNEA.
--
2 年Mr. Yaqub Shah?????????????????????????????????????????? A nice article identifying major reasons which have pushed the mining industry to the disappointing state, as described by you ‘At the moment it’s all over’. ?You pin-pointed the main issues which need to be addressed if someone takes the responsibility to correct the prevailing state of affair. For this the article is of great significance. ?The industry faces numerous problems, such as no legal framework, federal vs. provincial rights, management issues, categorization of mineral deposits, leasing process, royalty, mine modernization, environmental issues & mine-safety etc. The article may well serve as a guide to start with. Our politicians & bureaucrats are ignorant & arrogant to understand the long, complex process of bringing mineral prospects to productive mines.?Their interest is in short term political & financial gains, but the technical experts (geoscientists, mining engineers, environmentalist ) who understand the industry’s problems-and-progress scenario are witnessing its demise, but cannot do anything except to morn their helplessness.?They do not have any magical wand of their own to arrest the downfall of such a vital sector of economy.? Dr. Saif???????
Geologist
2 年Excellent article written by an experienced geologist.Yaqoob shah sb is well aware of affairs of minerals development in our country.Specially in GB gemstone mining and placer gold exploration is totally environmentally hazardous and echo destructive.It is time to implement the accord signed as discussed in article
Senior Manager Exploration at Pakistan Petroleum Exploration Pvt. limited
2 年A properly organized mineral industry can contribute significantly to the economic development of Pakistan. The author calls for the formulation/implementation of national policy of mining to exploit the mineral wealth of the country which stands neglected. Due to lack/absence of such a policy, the industry has passed on to local heads exploiting their poor and inexperienced workforce using primitive and outdated techniques of mining resulting into hazardous environment causing lifelong occupational diseases not only for the workers but the entire community living around. Short of rescue equipment at mining sites results into a number of casualties at times of mine collapse. If properly organized at both federal and provincial government levels and using modern technology, experienced and trained workforce, mineral industry can be a major economy activity creating job opportunities for thousands on the one hand and provide a healthy and secure environment on the other for the entire community around. Regards
General Manager(Mining) at Global Mining Company (pvt) Ltd.
2 年It is a very intelligent article an indication to lead to the success towards development of mineral industry of pakistan. As for as I understand you mean enactment of National Mineral Policy as Mining Law of Pakistan. National Mineral Policy initiated in the year 1995 and modified thereafter still needs attention of law makers of Pakistan for its enactment through the Parliament to covert it to a mining law to be followed by all provinces . It is really an eye opener effort to be appreciated and to be noticed by relavent authorities.
Senior Business Leader - Expert in Industrial Development, Modernization & Excellence Programmes
2 年A McKelvey's box another way for identifying the degree of uncertainty and profitability,?for instance, is also a gauging indicator to explore the?distinction between occurrences and reserves?and the differences that can exist within these two broad categories. Reserves and occurrences are the parameters used to quantify a?natural resource. The amount of any natural resource on the?Earth?can be explained and described in terms of their occurrence and?reserves, therefore, it is important to understand what both mean in order to understand how much of this material is accessible and usable. Good practices suggest more and for cultural change "matrix-driven environment'" is pivotal!