Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Governor calls to make mineral resources fully beneficial

Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Governor Barrister Masood Kausar has said that both the province and Fata are rich in mineral resources ranging from marble and other semi-precious stones to gold and oil and gas reserves which demands efficient approach and effective measures to make them fully beneficial for the people. Addressing as the chief guest at a conference on mineral sector in KP and Fata held under the auspices of Regional Institute for Mineral Development; a non-government organisation in Peshawar on Thursday, the Governor said, "focus on purposeful development of manpower coupled with encouraging potential investors was indeed the need of the hour for efficient exploitation of the abundantly available resources." Provincial Minister for Mines and Minerals and Industries Nawabzada Mahamood Zeb Khan, MPA Malik Tehmash Khan and a renowned geologist and ex-vice chancellor of University of Peshawar, Professor Ghulam Jan Khan Tahir Kheli were also present besides researchers, scholars, senior government officials of the mines and mineral departments of the province and Fata, while the Chairman of the Institute Ghulam Mustafa Bughio welcomed the Governor and the delegates, and highlighted the working and achievements of the organisation. Appreciating the holding of the moot at the premises of the university, the Governor said, "there is also need to promote market oriented education and skill development on scientific lines in this particular field as well and the forums like this moot are the effective means to discuss and guide the policy makers for making this possible." Similarly, he said, the overseas Pakistanis especially working in Middle East could also prove tthe result-oriented investors The Governor while referring to his recent abroad visits said, "I myself have contacted many of overseas Pakistanis who have the earnest desire to contribute for development of the motherland by investing their earnings in workable fields". "There is also need to establish mineral trading yards to encourage businessmen from the rest of the country and involve them in mineral trade", he added. He further stated that work on a couple of marble cities in the province and Fata was also in progress, which was expected to start functioning shortly. In Fata, he said, serious efforts were under way to promote private investment and for making this possible certain laws had already been extended. "We should also establish special banking arrangements and offer tax rebates to businessmen desiring investment in these sectors and above all, we should provide them one window operation and facilitate them through investment promotion councils", he observed. Referring to certain points raised by Chairman of the Regional Institute for Development, Ghulam Mustafa Bughio in his speech said "the Governor assured to spare no effort in making the workable recommendations of the moot fully beneficial for development of the mineral sector as well as well-being of the people of the respective areas."