Punjab's Cabinet has approved significant amendments to its Minor Mineral Policy, aiming to address years of shortages, illegal extraction, and regulatory issues in the mining sector. The reforms seek to expand legal mining operations, increase transparency, curb corruption, lower construction material costs, and boost state revenue. Key changes include encouraging operators to disclose and legalize existing activities, introducing new site categories like Crusher Mining Sites (CRMS) and Landowner Mining Sites (LMS), and shifting towards online auctions to ensure fair access and protect state income.