A massive network of illegal gold mining, cross-border smuggling, political patronage, and alleged terrorist financing has been exposed in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, with approximately 90 kilograms of gold worth Rs4.2 billion being illegally extracted from the province every month, Governor Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Faisal Karim Kundi has revealed.
Highlighting the alarming scale of illegal exploitation of the province’s mineral resources, the Governor disclosed that more than 2,000 excavators are being used in unlawful mining operations, with Kohat emerging as a major hub of this activity. He further revealed that approximately 80 percent of the illegally extracted gold is smuggled into Afghanistan, causing massive financial losses to the national exchequer and depriving the people of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa of their rightful share in the province’s natural wealth.
Governor Faisal Karim Kundi raised serious questions over the proposed allocation of a ten-year mining lease for just Rs4.92 billion, despite the fact that gold worth approximately Rs4.2 billion is being extracted every month. He termed such an arrangement an alarming example of the exploitation of national resources and a potential massive loss to the public exchequer.
He stressed that the province’s mineral wealth must not be handed over through questionable arrangements that undermine public interests and deprive the national treasury of billions of rupees.
The Governor also levelled serious allegations regarding the political patronage of the illegal mining mafia, naming PTI leaders Aftab Alam, Shehryar Afridi, Khurram Zeeshan, Sajid Iqbal, and Ehsan, alongside PPP’s Amjad Afridi and JUI-F’s Seth Gohar Saifullah, Naseem Afridi, and Imad Azam.
He further named Naveed, brother of former Chief Minister Sohail Afridi, Azhar Bukhari, a close relative of Senator Khurram Zeeshan, and Nazir Afridi, his coordinator, among individuals allegedly connected with the network.
These allegations point towards a potentially extensive nexus involving political influence, illegal extraction, financial interests, and organised criminal activity. The allegations call for a transparent investigation and accountability of all individuals found involved.
In a particularly serious disclosure, Governor Faisal Karim Kundi alleged that a “Youth Committee” was established in February 2026 under the previous PTI government’s patronage, allegedly headed by Afghan Taliban-linked Fitna-al-Khawarij commander Nemat, also known as Commander.
According to the Governor, the committee was established to facilitate and control the illegal gold mining business and regularly collected substantial amounts from individuals involved in unlawful mining operations.
The alleged collection system involved weekly payments of Rs700,000 from local operators and Rs1.1 million from non-local operators. This alleged extortion network raises serious concerns about the possible intersection of illegal mineral extraction, organised criminal interests, and terrorist-linked elements.
In response to the growing concerns surrounding illegal mining and the exploitation of provincial resources, the new Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government has decided to establish the Shaheed DSP Haider Zaman Special Task Force to curb unlawful mining activities and restore effective regulatory control over the province’s mineral sector.
The proposed task force will comprise representatives from:
- Law Enforcement Agencies
- Provincial Minerals Department
- Finance Department
- District Administration
According to provincial government sources, the task force will prepare a comprehensive framework within two to three weeks, covering legal mining procedures, security arrangements, and environmental protection measures.
In another major administrative decision, the new provincial government has decided to cancel all existing leases issued for gold mining.
All mining contractors and concerned individuals have been directed to remove their machinery from the mining areas within one week. Those failing to comply with the directive will face strict legal action.
The decision signals a move towards ending unauthorised mining operations, preventing further exploitation of provincial resources, and bringing the mineral sector under a transparent and legally regulated framework.
The revelations surrounding illegal gold extraction, alleged smuggling into Afghanistan, political patronage, and the alleged involvement of terrorist-linked elements highlight the urgent need for comprehensive institutional action.
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s mineral resources are a valuable national asset and belong to its people. Their exploitation through illegal networks, extortion, and questionable arrangements cannot be allowed to continue at the expense of public welfare and the national economy.
The proposed Special Task Force, cancellation of existing gold mining leases, and one-week deadline for machinery removal represent significant steps announced by the provincial government towards addressing the issue.
The province’s natural wealth must serve its people, not illegal mining mafias, political patronage networks, smugglers, or terrorist-linked elements. Accountability, transparency, and the protection of national resources must remain non-negotiable.
