A recent study report sheds light on the dire conditions faced by coal mine workers in Pakistan. The report, compiled by The Baloch Circle, highlights the ongoing loss of lives among workers in Balochistan due to the lack of essential facilities.
According to the report, a staggering 288 individuals lost their lives in coal mining accidents throughout Pakistan in 2022, with Balochistan accounting for 166 of these fatalities. Furthermore, in the first five months of the current year, Balochistan witnessed 18 coal mine accidents resulting in the death of 24 workers.
Expressing deep concern, the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan issued a “Fact Finding Report” early this year regarding the mining accidents in Balochistan in 2022. The report emphasized the urgent need for the federal government to prioritize the safety of these workers.
The All Pakistan Labor Federation’s report reveals that over 3,800 coal mines are presently operational in Balochistan, employing more than one million workers who extract over one million tons of coal annually. Remarkably, Balochistan alone contributes to over 50 percent of the total coal mined in Pakistan each year.
The Baloch Circle raises grave concerns over the recurring loss of hundreds of workers’ lives each year due to the absence of proper facilities in these mines. The suffering extends to their families, highlighting the persistent struggle faced by the impoverished.
The Baloch Circle specifically mentions the case of Sharaf Khan and Abdul Baqi, two laborers who have been trapped in a 900-feet deep mine in the Miraj area of Dukki district in north-eastern Balochistan for the past one and a half months. Their desperate situation highlights the need for urgent action and assistance. Abdul Basir, the brother of the trapped workers, laments the lack of attention from the world and the media, stating that the plight of his brothers and others stranded underground on May 4 seems to have been forgotten.
The alarming number of worker fatalities in Pakistan’s coal mines, particularly in Balochistan, due to the lack of necessary facilities demands immediate attention. The safety and well-being of workers should be a priority, and both the government and the mining industry must take significant steps to improve conditions and prevent further loss of life.
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