Cases are being filed against local landowners in Pakistan’s Punjab province for allegedly obstructing official work related to gold extraction in Attock, sparking a contentious debate in the Provincial Assembly. The Opposition has criticized the lack of revenue transparency in this matter. Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party leader Qazi Ahmed Akbar raised concerns in the Assembly about landowners facing legal action instead of receiving their rightful royalties from the gold extraction activities.
The controversy arose after Qazi Ahmed Akbar moved an adjournment motion in the Assembly to inquire about the revenue generated from the gold extraction. He expressed dissatisfaction with the approach of registering cases against landowners for impeding government duties rather than ensuring fair compensation through royalties. Punjab Minister for Mines and Minerals, Sher Ali Gorchani, emphasized that the province’s resources belong to the people and vowed to provide accurate information about the situation, despite differing claims made by Qazi.
In response to the allegations, Sher Ali Gorchani defended the government’s stance, promising to prevent any exploitation akin to what occurred in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) from happening in Punjab. He highlighted stringent actions being taken under Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz’s leadership, accusing the Opposition and the KP government of engaging in corrupt practices. The exchange between the two sides escalated, with opposition member Mian Asif Ali Bagga making a sarcastic comment, adding to the already tense atmosphere.
Deputy Secretary Zaheer Iqbal Channar informed the Assembly that the Mines and Minerals Department had contributed significantly to the provincial government’s revenue through its operations.
