PESHAWAR: The Peshawar High Court has ordered the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government not to grant mining leases to any individual, firm or company unless they’re registered with the Employees’ Old-age Benefits Institution (EOBI) and constituted a committee for addressing issues related to mine and mineral workers.

A bench consisting of Chief Justice SM Attique Shah and Justice Mohammad Ijaz Khan directed the provincial chief secretary to issue a formal notification regarding the constitution of the committee within seven days.

“Henceforth, no mining lease shall be granted to any individual, firm or company unless the party concerned is duly registered with EOBI. The Mines and Minerals Department is specifically directed to verify and ensure the mandatory registration of all prospective leaseholders with EOBI prior to the execution of any lease agreement,” the bench declared.

It ordered the production of the compliance report by March 5, 2026, and adjourned the hearing into the petition of All KP Labour Association president Umar Zaib Mashwani, seeking multiple reliefs for the workers associated with mines and minerals.

Court forms panel to address issues of mine workers

Advocates Isaac Ali Qazi and Faqirullah Awan appeared for the petitioner, whereas advocate Mukhtar Ahmad Maneri represented the EOBI along with its regional head Aurangzeb Khan. Additional advocate general Naumanul Haq appeared for the provincial government.

In its 12-page detailed order, the bench declared that it deemed appropriate to constitute a committee to examine and address the issues relating to the welfare, benefits and working conditions of mine and mineral workers in light of its observations.

It ordered the formation of the committee under the chairmanship of the secretary mines and mineral department and comprising KP advocate general, secretaries of law and labour departments, director general and chief commissioner mines and mineral, director labour, regional head of EOBI, association of mines and mineral workers to be represented by their counsel, Associations of Lease Title Holders and Mine Holders through their respective representatives and Association of Mine Owners, through its authorised representative.

The bench also declared that the deputy director of KP Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Mumtaz Ali Khan, should also be a member of the committee to independently examine the matter and share a report with the committee.

“The committee shall, inter alia, examine the total number of labourers currently registered in the province of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa; whether all mine and mineral workers are duly registered with the Employees’ Old-Age Benefits Institution (EOBI); whether the grant of Rs800,000 to a worker in the event of injury and Rs15,00,000 to the legal heirs of a deceased worker is consistent with internationally recognised standards and the applicable laws; and whether any disparity or lack of coordination exists among the Mines and Minerals Department, the Commissioners and EOBI that may impede the welfare of the workers,” it declared.

The court added that the committee would comprehensively review the existing legal, regulatory and policy framework, including all laws, rules, regulations and benefits extended to mine and mineral workers, which, on a prima facie assessment, appeared to be grossly inadequate and not reflective of current socioeconomic realities.

“The committee is specifically directed to prepare and submit a detailed, well- reasoned and comprehensive report with concrete recommendations for the enhancement of welfare benefits, taking into account inflation, prevailing economic conditions.”

Additional advocate general Naumanul Haq was appointed the focal person on the matter.

The bench pointed out that an alarming discrepancy was highlighted by EOBI in its report, noting that only 300 workers from 78 mines were currently registered with it though the Labour Association’s estimated that around 150,000 persons were associated with the sector.

It also expressed concern over high fatality rate in stone-crushing units, observing that the same was attributed to prolonged exposure to silica dust.

“In such factories, workers are required to grind quartz or soft white stone and mix it with boric acid, often using bare hands and without adequate protective measures. This process releases fine dust particles that remain suspended in the air and disperse over a wide area, the finer the dust, the greater the distance it travels and the higher the likelihood of inhalation,” it observed.

The court added that once inhaled, silica dust posed a serious threat to respiratory health.

“Studies show that workers exposed to these conditions suffer from significantly reduced lung function as compared to healthy individuals.

The long-term exposure further increases the risk of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease including bronchitis and emphysema, pulmonary tuberculosis, other airway disorders and lung cancer,” it observed.

Published in Dawn, February 1st, 2026