CHAGAI: Workers of Sain­dak Copper-cum-Gold Project and local residents on Thurs­day staged separate protest sit-ins against alleged injustices by the Chinese management at and outside the project site.

According to sources, the workers and local residents chanted slogans against Chi­nese company MCC Resource Development Limited (MRDL) management alleging that workers were being kept in prolonged quarantine, besides strict restrictions for coronavirus prevention had made lives of local residents miserable.

The protesters demanded the Chinese officials end the extraordinary restrictions. An employee of MRDL Asif Balanoshi told Dawn that employees working in Saindak project were not being allowed for several months to visit their homes located just close to the project site.

According to sources, Frontier Corps officials conducted negotiations on behalf of the Chinese management with protesters and assured them that their demands would be conveyed to authorities concerned.

In a statement issued recently, MRDL Chairman He Xuping said the MRDL was sending those employees to well-equipped quarantine centres under vigilance by a control room, who had been returning from their homes and then the ones who tested negative thrice were being allowed to join their duties on the project site.

He said: “I am aware of hurdles and discomforts caused by restrictions to all workers and local population but it should be kept in mind that all these measures are being taken to save our lives and continue the smooth operations of Saindak Project which has also a pivotal role in maintaining the economy of Chagai and surrounding districts.”

Published in Dawn, December 25th, 2020