Peshawar Division

Peshawar | ReNews Pakistan
The Auditor General of Pakistan has initiated a special audit into the cancellation of Tony Pak Mining Company’s lease and its subsequent alleged transfer to another company, amid questions over whether legal, regulatory and auction requirements were followed in the process.
The audit has been launched on the directions of the Special Investment Facilitation Council (SIFC), according to information available on the matter.
A two member audit team has been constituted and has started examining the relevant records of the provincial Minerals and Mineral Development Department.
A key focus of the audit will be the circumstances surrounding the cancellation of Tony Pak Mining Company’s lease despite the company having reportedly invested around Rs500 million in the project.
The auditors will also examine how the lease was subsequently granted or transferred to another company and whether the decisions taken during the process were in accordance with applicable laws, rules and regulatory requirements.
The review is expected to determine whether a competitive auction or any other legally required procedure was followed before granting the lease to the second company.
It will also examine whether all necessary approvals, regulatory conditions and procedural requirements were fulfilled during the process.
The special audit will further assess the potential financial implications of the decisions, including whether the matter resulted in any loss to the national exchequer or reduction in government revenues.
Possible effects on employment opportunities and potential foreign exchange earnings linked to the mining project will also form part of the review.
The initiation of the audit places the lease cancellation and subsequent allocation process under formal scrutiny, but the audit itself does not establish wrongdoing. Its findings are expected to determine whether the decisions were taken in accordance with the law and whether any financial or procedural irregularities occurred.
The case is also significant from an investment perspective, as consistency in mining leases, regulatory decisions and protection of committed investment remain important factors in maintaining investor confidence in Pakistan’s mineral sector.
Further action is expected to depend on the findings of the Auditor General’s special audit.

Peshawar | ReNews Pakistan
Significant progress has been reported in the ongoing operation against the illegal occupation of valuable land belonging to the Auqaf Department in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, where a total of 3,012 kanals and 18 marlas of property has been recovered in the districts of Mardan and Malakand with the supervision and assistance of the National Accountability Bureau Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
According to officials, the recovered land has an estimated value of Rs 1.429 billion. However, it has also emerged that nearly 36,000 kanals of Auqaf land across the province remain under illegal occupation at various locations.
Sources said the retrieved land has been handed over to the Auqaf Department, while the process of identifying, demarcating and verifying the record of the remaining encroached properties has been accelerated. Legal proceedings are also being initiated against those involved in the illegal occupation.
The district administrations, Auqaf Department, revenue authorities and law enforcement agencies are jointly planning further operations to bring properties dedicated to religious, charitable and public welfare purposes back under government control.
Officials said Auqaf properties include land associated with mosques, shrines, graveyards, religious institutions, charitable organisations and other public welfare facilities. They added that the removal of illegal encroachments from such properties remains a priority for the provincial authorities.
To prevent the reoccupation of recovered land, the government is also strengthening the verification of property records, physical surveys, digital mapping and scrutiny of legal documents. These measures are aimed at improving transparency and ensuring the long-term protection of Auqaf assets.
NAB and other relevant institutions have maintained that inter-agency coordination is being strengthened to expedite the recovery of state-owned land. Similar coordinated operations and joint task forces have also been established in Punjab and other provinces in recent months to retrieve public property from illegal occupants.
Authorities are expected to intensify such operations in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa as part of a broader effort to safeguard public assets and improve land administration.
Official sources said the next phase would involve the gradual recovery of the remaining encroached Auqaf land, legal action against those responsible and the introduction of stronger mechanisms for transparent property management.
The measures are intended to protect public assets, prevent future encroachments and ensure that land reserved for religious and welfare purposes is used in accordance with its designated objectives.

Peshawar | ReNews Pakistan
The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government has approved 17 tourism road development projects worth approximately PKR 5 billion to improve access to some of the province's most popular tourist destinations. The initiative includes the construction, rehabilitation and upgrading of 91.5 kilometres of roads aimed at strengthening tourism infrastructure and supporting regional economic development.
Special Assistant to the Chief Minister for Tourism Malik Adeel Iqbal said the projects had been approved by Chief Minister Muhammad Sohail Khan Afridi as part of the provincial government's broader strategy to position tourism as a key contributor to economic growth, employment generation and sustainable development.
According to officials, the approved schemes will focus on improving road connectivity in major tourism hubs, including Upper Chitral, Swat, Upper Dir and Lower Dir. These districts attract thousands of domestic and international visitors every year because of their scenic valleys, mountain landscapes, cultural heritage and adventure tourism opportunities.
The government believes that better road infrastructure will significantly improve travel accessibility, reduce journey times and enhance the overall visitor experience. Easier access to remote tourist destinations is also expected to encourage higher tourist arrivals, particularly during the peak travel seasons.
Officials from the Tourism Department said the projects would generate wide-ranging economic benefits by stimulating business activity in local communities. Hotels, guest houses, restaurants, transport operators and small businesses are expected to benefit from increased visitor numbers, while improved connectivity is likely to attract new private investment in tourism-related infrastructure.
The upgraded road network is also expected to create employment opportunities during both the construction phase and the long-term expansion of tourism services across the province. Authorities believe improved accessibility will help unlock the economic potential of remote regions by connecting local communities more effectively with visitors and commercial activity.
The provincial government described the initiative as part of its long term vision to develop a modern and sustainable tourism sector capable of contributing more significantly to Khyber Pakhtunkhwa's economy while promoting balanced regional development and improving infrastructure in tourism dependent areas.