HRCP demands implementation of safety protocols for miners

PESHAWAR: The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRC) has said that neither the Department of Mines and Minerals was ensuring the implementation of the safety protocols in mines nor are the miners aware of that.

Speaking at a press conference here, HRCP KP Vice-Chairman Akbar Khan, Asad Iqbal Butt, Ijaz Mehmod, Dr Sarfaraz and others released the report on the deaths of miners in Dera Adamkhel on October 20, 2023. The report said that the department had not shown any interest in the implementation of the safety protocol for the miners. They said that the loss of lives in the coalmines was the result of human negligence. The HRCP representatives said the department had always ignored the implementation of the basic safety measures for the protection of the lives of the miners.

They said that the coalmines in Dara Adamkhel were not implementing the protocol adopted across the world. The report asked the KP government to implement Mines Inspection and Safety Regulation 2019 in its true spirit.

It said that all the miners should be registered with the government and that the mining sector should be forced to adopt the latest techniques to protect the lives of the miners.