IN yet another unfortunate incident, heavy casualties occurred in a coalmine in Balochistan where several workers lost their lives. Reports suggest that an explosion in the mine due to excessive accumulation of methane gas had resulted in the collapse of the mine. Such tragic incidentsin the country are,and should be, a matter of concern. Losing a family breadwinner, besides causing deep grief, emotional setback and sense of insecurity, especially for children, brings multiple social and financial challenges for the whole family. While coalmine labouring is itself a risky undertaking, lack of adequate safety measures, as required under the relevant laws, increases the risk manifold.
As far as the relevant governing legal framework is concerned, although some provinces have enacted laws and certain regulationsforthe health and safety of mine workers, the primary law, being mostly followed in the country, is a pre-colonial statute called the Mines Act of 1923. Some basic safety requirements for mining are mentioned in this outdated law, but frequent incidents do indicate the needtohave elaborate and updatedlaws and guidelines regarding the risky affair. There is an urgent need for all provinces to not just enact comprehensive laws, but to also ensure strict compliance by the stakeholders to save precious lives.
Any violation should be dealt with strictly.
Waheed ur Rehman Rawalpindi