Amid growing concerns over unauthorized gold extraction, Kohat divisional administration has launched a renewed crackdown targeting illegal mining operations in Shakardara, including restrictions on the sale and transportation of diesel used to power mining machinery.
The latest measures follow imposition of Governor’s Rule in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and subsequent changes in the provincial administrative setup, as authorities seek to restore control over gold-rich stretches of the Indus River extending through Swabi, Nowshehra and Kohat districts.
Kohat administration has decided to disrupt the fuel supply networks sustaining illegal placer gold mining operations. The decision was taken during a high-level meeting chaired by Commissioner Kohat Division Parvez Khan Sabat Khel at his office.
Regional Police Officer (RPO) Kohat Shakir Hussain Dawar, Deputy Commissioner (DC) Muhammad Nawaz Wazir, District Police Officer (DPO) Rai Mazhar Iqbal and senior officials from the Mines and Minerals Department and other relevant agencies attended the meeting.
Officials reviewed the deteriorating security situation surrounding mining sites in Shakardara and discussed measures to prevent illegal extraction while ensuring compliance with mining regulations. The participants agreed that enforcement operations must go beyond shutting down unauthorized mining sites.
Under the revised strategy, restrictions will be imposed on the sale and movement of diesel intended for illegal mining activities, targeting the supply chains that allow operators to continue extraction despite government bans.
The administration directed Shakardara Mining Company to submit comprehensive operational plan by November 5, outlining its security arrangements and measures to ensure compliance with applicable mining laws. A special committee headed by the Kohat commissioner and regional police officer has also been formed to oversee implementation.
The committee, comprising representatives from the administration, police and mining authorities, will meet every 15 days to review enforcement measures, monitor security arrangements and assess progress on the operational plan. Officials said the initiative aims to stop unauthorized extraction, protect valuable mineral resources and strengthen security and regulatory oversight.
As part of efforts to regulate gold extraction, the Indus River mining belt has reportedly been divided into four administrative blocks covering several districts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
| Block | Mining area |
|---|---|
| Block A | Tarbela Dam to M-1 Motorway, Swabi |
| Block B | M-1 Motorway to Nizampur, Nowshehra |
| Block C | Approximately 20 kilometres downstream from Khushal Garh |
| Block D | Shakardara towards Mianwali, Kohat mining belt |
Block D emerged as sensitive area because of disputes over mining rights, unauthorized operations and confrontations between suspected illegal miners and government authorities.
Kohat, already known for its oil, gas and mineral reserves, witnessed a rapid expansion of gold extraction activities over the past several years. According to local sources, placer gold mining began on a relatively small scale around 2020–21 in the Khushal Garh area of Gumbat tehsil, near the Punjab border.
The activity subsequently expanded to Rehman Abad and Shakardara in Lachi tehsil, attracting miners from different districts and individuals seeking profits from the growing trade.
Initially, mining operations were reportedly regulated by the provincial Minerals Department through an auction-based system. However, the situation changed when the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) reportedly initiated an inquiry into alleged irregularities in the auction process.
After the inquiry, the government suspended mining operations, according to local sources. Despite suspension and repeated imposition of Section 144 by provincial and district authorities, unauthorized extraction allegedly continued along different sections of the Indus River.
Local sources claim that influential individuals, local groups and criminal elements gradually became involved in the business, intensifying competition for control of profitable mining locations.
The worsening situation became particularly evident a few weeks ago when a government convoy carrying Kohat Deputy Commissioner Muhammad Nawaz Wazir and other officials allegedly came under attack following an operation against illegal gold mining.
The administrative team was returning from Block D in the Shakardara and Rehman Abad areas of Lachi tehsil when protesters reportedly intercepted the vehicles. According to police, the convoy came under gunfire and heavy stone-pelting.
Several government vehicles were damaged during the confrontation, although no government official was injured. Police subsequently held negotiations with the protesters, bringing the situation under control and allowing the administrative team to return safely to Kohat.
The incident exposed the serious security risks facing government officials conducting enforcement operations in areas where unauthorized gold extraction has become a lucrative and contested business.
The controversy has also been accompanied by allegations that influential individuals, including serving and former political figures, have interests in illegal gold mining operations. Local sources claim that powerful individuals have become involved in the profitable extraction business, contributing to disputes over mining locations.
However, these allegations remain unverified and require investigation by the relevant authorities. The reported involvement of influential groups has raised questions about how illegal extraction has continued despite repeated government restrictions, administrative interventions and police operations.
Residents and local stakeholders have called for tougher enforcement of mining restrictions, transparent investigations into mining-related violence and an effective regulatory framework to prevent further conflict. They have also called for protection of local communities and government officials from threats linked to rival mining groups.
The continuation of unauthorized extraction despite repeated restrictions has highlighted the difficulty of regulating a highly profitable activity spread across several locations along the Indus River.
Authorities now face the challenge of preventing fresh clashes while ensuring that enforcement measures are implemented consistently and that mineral resources are extracted only through lawful procedures.
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