In an effort to protect Karoonjhar Hills as a cultural and heritage site, forest, and wildlife sanctuary, the Sindh cabinet on Thursday designated a 3.6 square kilometer area located 25 km from Nagarparkar for granite mining, pending clearance from the forest and wildlife department.
During the cabinet meeting, chaired by Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah, it was noted that the Sindh High Court had banned excavation in Nagarparkar on October 16, 2023, due to the presence of cultural and heritage sites, forests, and a Ramsar site. The provincial government had filed an appeal against this judgment in the Supreme Court, assuring that any mining policy for Karoonjhar Hills would balance wildlife, forest, environmental, and heritage interests.
The mines and mineral department referenced a 2015 Geological Survey of Pakistan (GSP) report, which identified around 14 billion tonnes of granite in Nagarparkar across 11 locations. The cabinet then identified the Khasar Area, 25 km from Nagarparkar, as suitable for granite mining, covering 3.6 square kilometers with no overlap with forest areas. The cabinet approved Khasar for granite mining, subject to clearance from the Forest and Wildlife Department.
At a post-cabinet press conference, Information Minister Sharjeel Memon and Education Minister Syed Sardar Shah stressed that mining would not proceed without the consent of local residents. Sardar Shah affirmed that Nagarparkar had been designated as a cultural and heritage site, and there were no plans to permit mining in Karoonjhar Hills.
Key Points:
- Designation: 3.6 sq km area for granite mining, located 25 km from Nagarparkar.
- Conditions: Approval subject to clearance from the forest and wildlife department.
- Background: Sindh High Court banned excavation in Nagarparkar on October 16, 2023.
- Appeal: Provincial government appealed the decision in the Supreme Court.
- Local Consent: Mining will not proceed without local residents’ consent.
- Cultural and Heritage Site: Assurance that Karoonjhar Hills will remain protected as a cultural and heritage site.
