Punjab Chief Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif presided over a high-level meeting on Saturday which reviewed performance of minerals department besides measures for exploration of natural resources, promotion of industrial activities and reorganisation of Punjab Minerals Development Corporation.
The meeting decided to constitute an autonomous authority for ensuring transparency in the process of leasing of mines. Addressing the meeting, Shehbaz Sharif said that Punjab is rich in natural resources, and added that Minerals Department is being reorganised on modern lines as it is the need of the hour to benefit from natural wealth.
He directed that the process of restructuring of Punjab Minerals Development Corporation should be completed at the earliest and a comprehensive survey of mining areas of the province should be conducted for accelerating industrial activities. He said that those areas should be identified in the survey as having an investment- friendly environment. He said that the best companies of the world should be contacted for the survey, and added that Minerals Department and PUNJMIN should use latest technology for their capacity-building and exploration of natural resources.
He said that results should be given by setting up Punjab Minerals Development Corporation on modern lines. He said that emergent steps should be taken for the capacity-building of the institution.
The chief minister ordered inquiry into expansion of factories against rules in mining areas in the past and directed to set up a high-powered committee for this purpose. He said it is lamentable that factories continued to expand in violation of rules and regulations while no action was being taken. The secretary mines briefed the meeting in detail regarding performance of the department, exploration of natural resources and other matters.
Provincial Ministers Rana Sanaullah Khan, Ch. Sher Ali, Ch. Muhammad Shafiq, chief secretary, additional chief secretary, secretary environment and concerned officials attended the meeting.