Lahore Orange Line Metro Train is the first project of the country :Raja Ashfaq Sarwar

Lahore: Provincial Minister for Labour & HR Raja Ashfaq Sarwar has said that Lahore Orange Line Metro Train is the first and unique project of the country with special significance for the people of Punjab as well as the whole country, which will provide safe, comfortable and economical transport facilities to the masses. Punjab Labour & HR Department is finalizing an effective inspection mechanism to ensure Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) for the labourers working at all the construction packages of this mega project.

He was presiding over a meeting in this regard held, here today. Secretary Labour & HR Ali Sarfraz, Director Labour Lahore Syed Hasnaat Javed, Deputy Director Inspections Daud Abdullah, Deputy Director Center for Improvement of Working Condition (CIWC) Tahir Manzoor, Dr. Javed Gill and other concerned officers attended the meeting.

The meeting was informed that 27.1 kilometer long Lahore Orange Line Metro Train Project will be checked and monitored by especially constituted inspection teams comprising labour inspectors during the whole construction period and powers are being delegated to these inspectors through a notification to be issued by Labour Department for this project.

Secretary Labour Ali Sarfraz told the meeting that regular workplace inspections will prevent any accidents by identifying and recording actual potential hazards in the construction process. He said that accidents prevention, safety from occupational disease will be ensured at the workplace by adopting international safety standards and procedures.

He said that thousands of labourers are working with the civil, mechanical, electrical, road transport infrastructure, Sui gas, water supply, sewerage, telecommunication and other related departments. These inspection teams will coordinate with these departments, contractors, supervisors and labourers as well to give them awareness regarding measures to be taken to ensure occupational safety according to Factories Act, Workmen’s Compensation Act and Law Enforcement Mechanism.

Minister Labour directed the concerned officers to ensure implementation on all the related Labour Laws and rules for the safety of labourers. He said that a simple form is also being prepared for all the stakeholders including construction companies, contractors, supervisors and workers with the details regarding important warnings, safety measures, use of safety kits and awareness programmes to be followed by them.

He further informed that Center for Improving of Working Condition will also hold special training programmes for the labourers and related staff for creating awareness and adopting occupational safety measures during the construction period of Lahore Orange Line Metro Train Project.