Syed Ali Shah:
Balochistan’s coal mining sector continues to claim lives, with 82 coalminers losing their lives in 2024 due to unsafe conditions.
According to the Mines and Minerals Department, 48 incidents were reported from various coalfields across the province, including Dukki, Harnai, and Quetta. These accidents were primarily caused by landslides and malfunctioning trolleys, highlighting the hazardous conditions faced by coalminers.
Most of the victims were impoverished workers from Swat in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and southern Afghanistan. Dozens of others sustained injuries, many of whom were left without proper medical care. The Mines and Minerals Department, prompted by the rising fatalities, has sealed 126 coal mines across the province. Six major inquiries into violations of mining laws are ongoing, with cases registered against several officials accused of negligence.
Despite repeated appeals by the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan, civil society, and labor unions, little has been done to improve working conditions for coalminers. Many mines lack basic safety measures, leaving workers to risk their lives daily to extract coal.
Unsafe working conditions in coal mines have claimed thousands of lives in Balochistan over the years. Coalminers, often among the poorest and most vulnerable, continue to face deadly risks. Advocacy groups emphasize the need for urgent reforms to prevent further loss of life.
