IN the pitch-black depths of Pakistan’s coal mines, the claustrophobia-inducing tunnels envelop miners like a constricting shroud — a world beneath from the sunlit lives we lead above. It is in this backdrop that tragedy unfolded in a private mine in Balochistan’s Khost region. On Tuesday night, as workers toiled some 300 metres underground, a deadly methane gas explosion occurred. It claimed 12 lives, while eight colliers were rescued from the rubble. This is but one of countless such incidents that occur, representing the state’s continuing disregard for miner safety and apathy towards enforcing stringent regulations. In the first 10 days of 2024 alone, at least eight miner deaths were reported in Pakistan. These individuals often start work at the tender age of 13. By the time they reach 30, many are compelled to leave the occupation, their bodies ravaged by years of exposure to hazardous conditions. They then find themselves without any support or safety net.

Pakistan’s coal mines, a mix of registered and an overwhelming number of unregulated pits, operate under conditions that can only be termed as death traps. The miners, bereft of even basic protective gear such as masks and even shoes, face a range of hazards, from methane blasts to cave-ins, not to mention the long-term effects on the lungs and eyes. Collusion between the mine owners, contractors, and inspectors, ensures the continuation of these deplorable conditions. The HRCP’s demand for the ratification of ILO Convention 176 should prick the conscience of the higher-ups, especially following this latest incident. Currently, the archaic Mines Act of 1923 governs the sector, blatantly disregarding miners’ health and safety. It is high time the government cut through this Gordian knot of neglect, corruption, and ineptitude. Implementing ILO safety rules and ensuring strict compliance is not just an obligation but a moral imperative. The apathy towards those who work in the darkness should end.

Published in Dawn, March 22nd, 2024