Minister declares mine workers a “National Asset”

Lahore: Provincial Minister for Mines and Minerals Ch. Sher Ali Khan has said that mine workers who put their lives at stake to discover hidden precious mines and minerals are our national assets. Government of the Punjab is taking concrete steps to ensure health and safety of the mine workers along with providing modern mines’ safety equipment and machinery as well as provision of free education and medical facilities to the families of mine workers.

He said this during a briefing of Chief Inspectorate of Mines (CIM) here today. Chief Inspector of Mines Eng. Siddique Ch briefed the minister about the performance of the department. Director Mines Labor Welfare Ch. Riaz, Director Mining Development Cell, Dilshad Baloch, Mines Inspectors from all divisions and concerned officers of the department attended the briefing.

Eng. Siddique Ch told the minister that under ADP this year a Mines Rescue & Safety Area Substation Ara Basharat Chawan Saidan Shah is under completion with the total cost of Rs. 78 million. He told that budget expenditure this year consisted Rs. 153. 855 million.

The meeting was informed that 784 inspections of 2600 mines of the province were conducted whereas 814 mine owners were prosecuted alongwith huge fines. He informed that compensation grant in case of any casualty in mining has been increased from Rs. 2 lac to Rs. 4 lac and Rs. 5 lac financial assistance is also provided to the family of deceased mine worker through WWB. The meeting was informed that around 160 students are taking training and education in the Punjab Schools of Mines. Rs. 34 crore has been collected under annual excise duty (Labor Levy) he added.

The Minister said that field officers and employees are performing extremely well and they will be provided foreign training for rescue operations in any emergency at mines whereas latest pumps, air-jackets, life detectors, sensors and other important rescue equipment will be purchased to upgrade the inspectorate. Minister was informed that a 10-bedded Mines Labor Welfare Hospital at Chak 119 Sargodha as well a Mines Labor Girls Higher Secondary School Sargodha have been successfully completed and will be functional very soon.

The Minister warned the Mines Lease Holders to ensure necessary mining training to their workers otherwise they will not able to get licenses for mining.