Syed Nazar Abbas Kazmi Advocates for Fair Mining Practices in Gilgit-Baltistan
Syed Nazar Abbas Kazmi, the President of the Awami Action Committee, has voiced significant concerns about the protection of local community rights in Pakistan-occupied Gilgit-Baltistan (PoGB) regarding mining leases. He stressed the need for transparency and fairness in managing mining resources, emphasizing that local residents should benefit from the wealth generated from their lands.
Kazmi highlighted a specific mining lease in Salingh under Rupal Enterprises, authorized to extract placer gold. He alleged that other valuable resources are being illicitly extracted with the involvement of a Chinese company and influential local figures. Kazmi stated, “Today I would like to tell you about a lease in Salingh under the name of Rupal Enterprises. There is a lease to extract placer gold, but something else is being extracted there at the moment. Some powerful people are behind this, and a huge amount of mining resources is being looted.”
His statements align with a broader movement for sustainable resource management and local governance in PoGB. As mineral demand rises, potential conflicts over land and resources have intensified. Kazmi criticized the terms of mining leases, noting that local communities should receive 20% of the revenue, but current leases only allocate 6%. “When a mining lease is taken, the right of the people should be 20%, but a lease has been made on 6%. They do not have the authority to loot other mining resources,” he argued.
Kazmi expressed frustration over pressures on local communities to remain silent. “We should not be forced to take the names of those people. We should not be compelled to bring the work being done there to the media. This illegal act that is being done, we will stop it through the people.”
Previously, all mining contracts in PoGB were taken by China or their sponsored contractors, causing displacement and protests. Kazmi concluded by warning the companies and powerful individuals involved, “We want to tell those companies and the powerful people behind them that we know everything.”
Doubts Revealed
Syed Nazar Abbas Kazmi -: Syed Nazar Abbas Kazmi is a leader and the President of the Awami Action Committee, which is a group that works for the rights of people in Gilgit-Baltistan.
Awami Action Committee -: The Awami Action Committee is an organization that fights for the rights and fair treatment of people in the region of Gilgit-Baltistan.
Gilgit-Baltistan -: Gilgit-Baltistan is a region in the northern part of Pakistan, known for its beautiful mountains and natural resources.
Mining leases -: Mining leases are agreements that allow companies to extract minerals and resources from the land for a certain period.
Transparency -: Transparency means being open and clear about actions and decisions, so everyone knows what is happening and why.
Illicit extraction -: Illicit extraction refers to taking resources from the land in a way that is not allowed by law or rules.
Chinese company -: A Chinese company is a business that is based in China, which is a country in Asia.
Revenue -: Revenue is the money that is earned from selling goods or services, or in this case, from mining resources.
Community action -: Community action means people coming together to work on solving problems or making changes in their area.
