KARACHI: The Sindh Mines and Minerals Department has said that it has cancelled a total of 327 mining permits, whose tenure had already expired, and rejected allegations of mala fide in carrying out the decision. The department said in a press statement issued here on Friday that it had not allowed illegal extraction of minerals after cancellation or the permits, which had been made under Sindh Mines and Minerals Governance Act, 2021, Sindh Mines and Minerals Governance Rules, 2023, and Sindh High Court’s order dated May 27, 2021. The decision was in accordance with the letter and spirit of Sindh High Court, Sukkur bench’s order, which said: “The mines department is directed to allocate the surface minerals mining permits, prospecting mine and quarry operators for surface minerals by auction while all those mining permits for stone quarries and mines pertaining to any sorts of surface minerals should be cancelled, if not allocated to any mine or quarry operators without any open auction or bid”. It said that in compliance with the court’s order, the provincial government notified a mining committee for recommending grant, renewal or cancellation of permits. The committee, in its two meetings held on Sept 9 and Nov 1, 2024, recommended cancellation of 327 permits after having found the leaseholders were involved in violation of terms and conditions, said the statement.