ISLAMABAD- The Minerals Development Department in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa has granted 226 exploration licenses and mining leases today to private companies and investors in Malakand Division.

These permissions include nine prospective licenses and eight mining leases for granite. Sources at the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Resources said that the duration of prospecting and exploration licenses is spread over 2 to 5 years and 3 to 9 years respectively. Some mining companies and lease holders are at the advanced stages of mining and processing. These companies have improved the economic conditions in the distant areas of Pakistan by providing hundreds locals with employement.