CHARSADDA: Illegal extraction of minerals reportedly continues at the Khiyali Bridge point along the Swat River in Charsadda despite a ban on mining at the placer gold sites, causing losses of millions of rupees to the provincial exchequer. Sources said that several gold blocks exist at the Khiyali point in the river where extraction of all kinds of minerals is prohibited.
However, influential groups are allegedly continuing mining activities at night from these gold placer sites. The Mines and Minerals Department had awarded contracts worth Rs56 million for extraction of minerals from 10 locations along the Swat River in Charsadda.
However, the specific sites identified as gold placers were declared restricted areas where mining of any kind is banned. Despite this restriction, mining mafias are reportedly extracting minerals from these prohibited locations, causing heavy financial losses to the provincial treasury.
The Charsadda Police registered three separate cases — FIR numbers 142, 143 and 144 dated February 26, 2026 — on the complaint of a minerals inspector over the extraction of sand from the gold placer sites. Interestingly, guards who had lodged the complaints have also been transferred from Charsadda.
In another development, the Mines and Minerals Department transferred 11 out of the 14 guards deployed to monitor the gold placer sites in Charsadda to Nowshera through Order No. DGMM 5032 dated February 25, 2026.
The move complicated the monitoring process and made it easier for the mining mafia to continue their activities.Additional Deputy Commissioner Ms Rina said that strict monitoring of the gold placer sites in Charsadda was being carried out.
However, due to lack of cooperation from the Mines and Minerals Department and the absence of its officials from meetings related to the gold placer issue, a displeasure notice had been issued to Assistant Director Anwar Zeb through Letter No. 899 dated February 4, 2026.
Meanwhile, residents informed the secretary of Mines and Minerals as well as the local administration in writing about the continuous extraction of minerals from the gold placer sites and the resulting financial losses to the provincial exchequer.
Repeated attempts were made to contact the assistant director of the Mines and Minerals Department in Charsadda for his version. However, he initially asked to be contacted later and subsequently could not be reached despite repeated efforts as he did not respond to phone calls.
