SC seeks report on stone crushing factories

ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court (SC) on Thursday directed the federal and provincial governments to submit a report over the current status of registration of stone crushing factories and steps taken for protection of labourers in the country. A three-member bench headed by the Chief Justice

Mian Saqib Nisar issued the directives while hearing a plea about silicosis, a form of occupational lung disease which became cause of deaths of a number of labourers due to marble factories dust in various vicinities.

In pursuance of the court’s earlier directives Law and Justice Commission of Pakistan submitted a report about Balochistan, saying there are 233 industrial units with a total of 5,548 workers in the province.

The report disclosed that there were 821 workers in the 111 marble factories in Balochistan whereas a bill was still pending in the provincial assembly about protection of the labourers. The court was informed that provincial environment agency has finalised a procedure for protection of labourers in Balochistan.

Applicant apprised the court that more than 4000 industrial units were operating without any registration. Responding to the Chief Justice Mian Saqib Nisar query as to how many marble crushing unites were operating in Punjab the provincial additional advocate general Asma Hamid informed that there were 300 unites operating in the province whereas government had closed 23 unites which were in operation without any licence.

The law officer informed the court that Punjab government had made law for protection of labourers, adding that provincial police was taking action against those units which failed to protect labourers’ rights.  

Likewise, law officer of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa informed the bench that a total of 58,163 workers were there in 1,069 industrial units in the province. After examining the report the chief justice observed that the court would ensure protection of the labourers, adding that nobody would be allowed to play with the lives of the labourers.

Chief Justice Mian Saqib Nisar observed that China Pakistan Economic Corridor project had taken off but due to insecurity labourers of the country were in trouble.   Meanwhile, the court adjourned the hearing for two weeks.