Placer gold quarrying in river Indus would be auctioned in Attock: Mines Minister

ATTOCK, NOV 14 (DNA): Punjab Minister for Mines and Minerals Sardar Sher Ali Gorchani has said that blocks of placer gold have been identified which will be auctioned soon. He expressed these views during his visit to the site of proposed blocks near Attock on Thursday. Secretary Mines and Minerals Perviaz Iqbal, Director General Mines Punjab Raja Mansoor, Deputy Commissioner Attock Rao Atif Raza, district Police officer Dr Ghias Gull, assistant commissioner city Shagufta Jabeen, assistant commissioner Hazro Ayisha Badar, officials of mines and environment protection agency were also present on this occasion. During this visit, an on-site briefing was provided by the Geological Survey of Pakistan, where details regarding all proposed mining blocks were discussed. It was clearly asserted that no unauthorized mining will be tolerated, and all relevant stakeholders were directed to ensure the prompt finalization of the auction process

Minister for Mines and Minerals Sardar Sher Ali Gorchani, along with Secretary Mines and Minerals Perviaz Iqbal, Director General Mines Raja Mansoor, and all relevant officers, visited the proposed placer gold sites. During this visit, an on-site briefing was provided by the Geological Survey of Pakistan, where details regarding all proposed mining blocks were discussed. It was clearly asserted that no unauthorized mining will be tolerated, and all relevant stakeholders were directed to ensure the prompt finalization of the auction process for placer gold.

While speaking on this occasion, Deputy Commissioner Attock Rao Atif Raza has said that district administration making efforts to completely stop the instances of illegal excavation in river Indus by the people of the area and eventually requested the CM for a complete ban on excavation.