KP Governor vows to exploit mineral resources

KP Governor vows to exploit mineral resources

PESHAWAR: Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Governor Faisal Karim Kundi has stressed the need to utilise the province’s mineral resources to promote development, saying the government must take practical steps to extract and sell minerals for economic benefit.

Addressing a ceremony in Peshawar, Kundi said the province needed to make effective use of its natural resources to accelerate development and generate economic opportunities.

Commenting on the security situation, the governor alleged that some fugitive figures from the former provincial government were sitting across the border and inciting people. He claimed that decisions taken during the previous KP government came from Kabul and Kandahar rather than Islamabad.

Kundi further alleged that militants had been resettled in the province under the previous administration and had now taken up arms again. He also claimed that people had been brought from Afghanistan and settled in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, contributing to the province’s security challenges.

The governor maintained that the restoration and preservation of peace remained a priority and that the state would not compromise on security. He said the authorities would confront those who took up arms against the state and called for action against individuals who refused to accept Pakistan’s Constitution and laws.

Referring to the security situation in Balochistan, Kundi said operations against various militant organisations, including the Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA), were also under way there.

The governor also expressed disagreement with Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman over his position on imposing governor’s rule in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

Kundi referred to Fazlur Rehman’s remarks that he could not move freely in his own area because of the deteriorating security situation. The JUI-F chief has criticised the provincial government over its inability to maintain law and order.

However, Kundi said it would be incorrect to claim that the provincial government was making no efforts to restore peace. While disagreeing with Fazlur Rehman’s assessment, he acknowledged that security remained a major concern for the province.

His remarks highlighted two key challenges facing Khyber Pakhtunkhwa: improving security and using its natural resources to support economic development. The province’s mineral wealth offers economic potential, while the continuing threat of militancy remains a significant obstacle to stability and progress.