Ali Hamza:
QUETTA, Aug. 1: The Pakistan Central Mines Labour Federation (PCMLF) has called for an independent judicial inquiry and sweeping reforms to improve mine safety following the devastating methane gas explosion in the Sorange coalfield near Quetta that claimed the lives of at least 34 miners.
In a press conference held on Friday, the federation expressed deep sorrow over the tragedy, describing it as one of the deadliest mining accidents in recent years. The victims included miners from Shangla district in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan, leaving dozens of families in mourning.
The federation criticized what it called the continued neglect of mine safety regulations, saying such incidents have become recurring because existing laws are poorly enforced.
Key Demands by the Labour Federation
The Pakistan Central Mines Labour Federation urged the federal and Balochistan governments to take immediate action, including:
- Conduct a high-level judicial inquiry into the Sorange mine disaster and hold those responsible accountable.
- Provide a special compensation grant to the families of all deceased and injured miners through PMDC and relevant government authorities.
- Ensure permanent employment for one eligible family member of every miner who lost his life.
- Ratify and fully implement ILO Convention No. 176 on Safety and Health in Mines.
- Strengthen the role of the Chief Inspector of Mines and improve regulatory oversight.
- Suspend mining operations in hazardous mines until comprehensive safety inspections are completed.
- Make it mandatory for all mines to maintain complete records of workers, including their identities, legal rights and insurance details.
- Introduce compulsory safety training for miners, supervisors and mine owners.
- Install modern safety equipment, including gas detection systems, communication facilities and emergency rescue mechanisms, in every mine.
- Conduct transparent investigations into all mining accidents under the supervision of the Pakistan Central Mines Labour Federation.
- Register all miners with EOBI and social security institutions and ensure full implementation of labour laws.
Workers’ Lives Must Be Protected
The federation said miners are the sole breadwinners for many families and that every mining fatality devastates entire households. It stressed that the loss of a miner is not only a personal tragedy but also an economic catastrophe for dependents.
Calling for urgent reforms, the labour body urged authorities to move beyond issuing condolences and instead adopt effective safety standards and strict enforcement mechanisms to prevent future tragedies.
The federation concluded that the Sorange disaster should serve as a wake-up call for policymakers, saying Pakistan’s mining industry must prioritize workers’ safety through stronger legislation, regular inspections and accountability.
