Islamabad, April 21: The Attock district in Punjab, Pakistan, has been in the spotlight recently due to the discovery of significant gold reserves. Mining operations have commenced, but a controversy has arisen as the government has filed cases against landowners. The accusation is that these landowners are obstructing government operations.
This issue has sparked intense debate in the provincial assembly, with the opposition raising questions about transparency and holding the government accountable.
According to local media, the dispute began when Qazi Ahmed Akbar, a leader of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party and MPA from Attock, presented a motion in the assembly seeking detailed information about the revenue generated from gold mining. He expressed concern over the filing of cases against landowners instead of ensuring they receive their rightful royalties.
Speaking to Pakistan’s leading daily, ‘Dawn’, Qazi stated that landowners are being ensnared in legal battles under the pretext of “obstructing government work,” while the focus should be on ensuring that mining leaseholders pay them their due royalties.
In response, Sher Ali Gorachani, the Punjab Minister for Mines and Minerals, asserted that provincial resources belong to the people, and the government will present the realities of this discovery to the nation, despite Qazi’s contrary claims.
The minister countered the opposition’s arguments, stating that the Punjab government will not allow the kind of “looting” seen in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP). He claimed that under Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz’s leadership, stringent measures are being taken, while also accusing the opposition and the KP government of corruption.
As tensions escalated between the two sides, the atmosphere in the assembly grew charged, especially when opposition member Mian Asif Ali Bagga quipped that “only Maryam Nawaz is allowed to steal.”
Deputy Secretary Zahid Iqbal Channar informed the assembly that the Mines and Minerals Department has already generated billions of rupees in revenue for the provincial government.
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My name is Bhupendra Singh Chundawat. I am an experienced content writer with several years of expertise in the field. Currently, I contribute to Daily Kiran, creating engaging and informative content across a variety of categories including technology, health, travel, education, and automobiles. My goal is to deliver accurate, insightful, and captivating information through my words to help readers stay informed and empowered.
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