QUETTA: At least nine people working at a copper and gold project site in Balochistan’s Chagai district were killed in an armed attack by unidentified assailants, according to officials.

In a statement, the mining company National Resources Limited (NRL) said the attack took place on Wednesday evening, adding that security forces, including the Frontier Corps, responded promptly, secured the area and launched a clearance operation.

The company did not mention any casualties in its statement. However, local authorities confirmed the incident and nine casualties.

“At least nine employees, including two security guards, were killed,” a senior official of the Chagai administration said on condition of anonymity.

Police officials also confirmed the attack and the killing of nine people. All nine bodies were taken to Prince Fahad Hospital in Dalbandin.

In its statement, NRL said it remained “fully committed to the development and empowerment of local communities in Balochistan, with a strong focus on improving livelihoods and contributing to economic upliftment”.

“Over 90 per cent of the workforce at the Darigwan site comprises individuals from Balochistan,” the firm noted.

NRL said it was closely coordinating with the relevant authorities and affirmed that the safety and security of its employees and operations remained its highest priority.

NRL is a Pakistani mining company formed as a joint venture between Lucky Cement, Fatima Fertiliser, and Liberty Mills. The company is actively exploring copper-gold and lead-zinc deposits in Chagai and has reported significant mineral discoveries. Lucky Cement holds a 33.33 per cent equity stake in the venture.

Meanwhile, the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) condemned the incident in a statement posted on X.

It said that the workers were “civilians and noncombatants, entitled under all circumstances to protection”. It maintained that the “deliberate targeting” was a violation of fundamental human rights.

The commission called on the state to “conduct an immediate, transparent investigation, hold perpetrators accountable, and take concrete measures to ensure the safety of all civilians”.

It further stressed that the people of Balochistan and “not armed groups, nor corporate or state interests” should be the focus of development in Balochistan.