LAHORE: Workers held a procession on Friday under the aegis of the All Pakistan Workers Confederation and the All Pakistan Wapda Hydro Electric Workers Union to express condolences over the death of coal miners in Balochistan.

Starting the procession from the Labour Hall, they demanded the prime minister and the Balochistan chief minister intervene to prevent the tragic deaths of coal miners in the province every now and then. They pointed out that 100 miners had been killed in 72 coal mine blasts in Balochistan in 2020.

The workers demanded implementation of the Mines Act 1923 promulgated over a century ago, provision of social protection and payment of Rs2 million as compensation to the families of the deceased miners.

Earlier, the workers held a conference at the Labour Hall that was addressed by Khurshid Ahmed, Mian Liaqat, Osama Tariq, Mr Imran and other representatives of the union.

Published in Dawn, March 20th, 2021