ISLAMABAD (Web-Desk); Amid increasing political debate and widespread social media narratives alleging military dominance over Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s mineral wealth, official records present a different picture.
According to government data, a total of 4,917 mining licences have been issued across the province. Of these, only one licence was granted to a military-affiliated organisation — the Frontier Works Organization (FWO) — in 2015 for the Boya area of North Waziristan. This region has been severely affected by conflict, where the FWO has been involved in infrastructure and rehabilitation efforts.
A senior security official revealed that over the past 18 months, the Pakistan Army facilitated the cancellation of nearly 40 legal mining licences held by retired army personnel and their close relatives. This was done in response to public concerns and to counter misinformation. Currently, more than 500 new licence applications are under review by the KP chief minister, and none of these have been submitted by military or military-linked entities.
The official stressed that the ownership of KP’s mineral resources rightfully belongs to its people, and provincial policy must uphold transparency and fairness in the licensing process. He cautioned that spreading baseless accusations against state institutions undermines the national interest and diverts focus from real governance challenges.
With social media significantly influencing public perception, it is important to separate factual information from political rhetoric.
Data from the Mineral Development Department as of March 2025 shows substantial growth in the sector. KP had only 482 mineral titles in 2010, which increased to 1,762 by 2020 and 3,962 by February 2024. The current total stands at 4,917 licences — 4,133 in settled districts and 784 in merged areas, including 125 issued before the merger.
The department’s revenue has grown accordingly, from Rs2.17 billion in 2016–17 to Rs7.43 billion by mid-fiscal year 2024–25. However, despite this progress, experts argue that KP has yet to fully harness the potential of its vast mineral reserves, estimated to be worth hundreds of billions of rupees.
