A total of 283 Mine workers lost their lives in various accidents including gas explosions in the mines in 2023. The Mines in Balochistan have been detected as the most affected Coal Mining Industry.
Accidents in the coal mines of Balochistan have proven to be deathly and the recent disasters at Shahrag, Sorrange and Duki coal mines are enough to personify the plight of the Mine Workers. Three Afghan citizens died because of methane gas on 13th September 2024 in Shahrag and three miners died in similar circumstances in the same week. These fatal accidents thus draw focus on the endless negligent and risky operations within the coal mining industry in Pakistan.
Fatal accidents in the coal mines are not a new phenomenon in Pakistan especially in the Balochistan region. Since the beginning of the 20th century, the miners worked under geological conditions that were dangerous for their health and easily could cause their demise.
Such disasters include methane gas explosions which have occurred severally in Quetta’s coal mines and which give daily life account of the Hazards that mine workers go through. Five miners died in 2006 and in the year 2011, a major mining disaster happened in Sorrange, Balochistan where 45 miners were killed by a gas explosion.
In May 2018, 23 miners were killed in two separate similar incidents through methane explosions and inadequate safety measures. In fact, no enhancement in safety standards where witnessed although there have been so many disasters.
283 Miners died in different accidents by 2023 and most of the incidents were recorded in Balochistan province. This speaks a lot ill of the coal mining sector which is facing several weaknesses such as poor safety measures and substandard technology.
There have been growing comparisons of the mines to a war zone due to the absence of proper safety precautions With this, the workers and the unions are in a mess. The Social Protection and welfare of Mine Workers is also something of concern as Lala Sultan Khan, the General Secretary of the Pakistan Central Mines Labour Federation (PCMLF) mentioned the lack of drinking water, health services and protective clothing. These workers are paid Unfair wages and they work under very lethal circumstances.
The PCMLF have closely appealed to the Pakistan government to ratify the ILO Convention C-176 devoted to Mine Health Care and Occupational Safety and to effective enforcement of the labour laws. They also demand social security, wage equality, personal protective equipment, as well as for education for the children of Mine Workers.
