Senate body for issuing explosive licences in two months

RECORDER REPORT

ISLAMABAD: The Senate Functional Committee on Problems of Less Developed Areas Thursday directed the Ministry of Industries and Production to ensure issuance of explosive licences for mining purposes to eligible contractors within two months.

The parliamentary panel met with Senator Muhammad Usman Khan Kakar in the chair here for further discussion on actions taken by the Ministry of Industries and Production, Explosive Department and Ministry of Interior on the recommendations given to them during the previous meetings.

The committee observed that Muslim Bagh area has one of the biggest chromite reserves in the world as the reserves of the mineral being exported, worth US $400 million, are the largest sum of exports of the country, adding that the mine owners are facing difficulties in getting explosive material for mining. He said this while showing his reservations that due to unavailability of explosives in Muslim Baghm the mine owners were buying explosives from Pashin.

The authorities concerned should issue the contract licence of explosives to the local people without any delay to mitigate their losses, he added.

However, the committee recommended referring the National Explosive Policy to the Senate to overcome the anomalies in explosives supply chain in the country in the interest of national security and promote mining industry which has huge export potential.

Senator Kakar said the case of Babar Enterprises was rejected by the Ministry of Interior and Ministry of Industries and Production, but later it was reinitiated by the Ministry of Interior and has given special favour to the applicant who is a former government official.

He noted, "I strongly oppose such undue favour and I would be going for privilege motion in the House as the Ministry of Interior has pushed back the committee ruling." The officials told the committee that the cases for issuance of explosives licence to the contractors for Muslim Bagh were delayed due to official procedures.

The ministries' officials said, "We don't want to block anyone's business and the departments concerned are committed that on receipt of application, each case will be dealt on the priority basis."

To a question, the secretary of Ministry of Industries and Production said that the authorities have been inspecting the explosive buying process on regular basis and 100 percent monitoring is carried out to ensure full security and transparency.

Senator Mir Hasil Khan Bizenjo, Sardar Sarfaraz Ahmed Bugti, Sardar Muhammad Shafiq Tareen, Kalsoom Parveen, Haji Momin Khan Afrid, Molvi Faiz Muhammad, Gianchand and officials of the Ministry of Interior and Ministry Industries and Production attended the meeting.