According to a news source released today (September 16), the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Antiquities Authority has asked the Department of Mines and Minerals to stop extracting minerals from archaeological sites in the province. Besides, he called on the government to declare 84 archaeological sites to be “lease-free” under the KP Antiquities Act 2016.
The Office provided the Department with the coordinates and details of these sites in a letter indicating the fixed monuments, antiquities, and assets that must be protected. This happened in response to an incident where a mining license was issued for an archaeological site. The chief trustee of the KP, Kazem Niyaz, called a meeting on September 14 at which the concerned administration was urged to ban mining at such sites.
The official also said that the Mardan District Administration had imposed Section 144 on all mining operations at the Tahrelli archaeological site in light of these directives. In this regard, the Deputy Commissioner issued a notice stating that anyone who violates Article 144 (two months sentence) will be charged under Article 188 of the Pakistani Penal Code.
