Ban on mercury use in gold mining

Peshawar: The Peshawar High Court (PHC) has imposed a ban on the use of mercury in gold mining.

Chief Justice PHC Ishtiaq Ibrahim and Justice Waqar Ahmed heard a petition against the use of mercury in gold mining in Kohat.

The petitioner’s lawyer took the position that mercury is burned to extract gold which is poisoning the water in the area, and the use of mercury is banned worldwide.

The court issued a notice to the officials of the Minerals Department and summoned them for the next hearing, after which the court banned the use of mercury in gold mining.