The inaugural meeting of the Special Committee-3 of the Punjab Assembly, chaired by Minister for Mines and Minerals Sardar Sher Ali Gorchani, marked a decisive step towards tackling the pressing issues of illegal sand mining and the damage caused by overloaded vehicles on highways.
The meeting, held here on Wednesday, also observed the attendance of Minister for Transport Bilal Akbar Khan and Minister for Communications and Works Sohaib Ahmed Malik, alongside Punjab Assembly members Mushtaq Ahmed, Shaukat Raja, Sardar Muhammad Ali, and officials concerned. The committee engaged in a comprehensive discussion on the detrimental impact of overloaded sand trolleys on road infrastructure. Participants voiced significant concerns over the unlawful extraction and transportation of sand, highlighting the severe repercussions of such activities on public property and safety. The meeting underscored the urgent need to fortify mechanisms that prevent vehicles exceeding proposed weight limits from accessing highways. There was unanimous agreement on the necessity for strict enforcement of load management policies to safeguard the integrity of the road network. Sardar Sher Ali Gorchani asserted the governments zero-tolerance stance on illegal sand leases and mining. He emphasized that highways were public property, built with taxpayers money. “We will not allow overloaded heavy vehicles to destroy these vital assets”, he added. Addressing past mismanagement, Sardar Sher Ali Gorchani lamented the exploitation of the department of Mines and Minerals under previous administrations, which he described as treating public resources like a free-for-all. “Under Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharifs leadership, we are committed to using Punjabs mineral wealth for the public good. Holding those who have plundered public assets accountable is imperative.” Highlighting the financial toll of illegal activities, Sardar Sher Ali Gorchani revealed that the national treasury incurs losses amounting to millions of rupees daily due to sand theft and unauthorized mining.
