ISLAMABAD: Lawmakers demanded tying the issuance of mine leases directly to workers’ EOBI registration to guarantee legal protection for mine workers and are paid compensation in case of any accident in the mine by mine owners or managers.

The issue was raised at a meeting of the National Assembly Standing Committee on Overseas Pakistanis and Human Resource Development held in the Parliament House on Wednesday.

Syed Rafiullah chaired the meeting. The parliamentarians expressed serious concern over the recurring mine accidents that have killed dozens of low-income miners and demanded managers of mine leases be compelled to ensure full safety and welfare of mine workers.

To begin with, labourers’ registration with the Employees’ Old-Age Benefits Institution be made a precondition for the grant of a mine lease, with quarterly reporting by lease holders to the provincial labour and mines departments, and that consideration be extended to unregistered workers for compensation in case of any incident.

Members of the committee also recommended that the finance division place the funds of the Workers Welfare Fund in interest-bearing accounts, so that the returns may be applied to the welfare of workers.

The committee postponed discussions on the Emp­loyees’ Old-Age Benefits (Amendment) Bill, 2026, until the next meeting, requesting that the issue of higher contribution rates be evaluated with the new amendments.

Published in Dawn, September 10th, 2026