Islamabad: National Labor Federation (NLF) Pakistan President Shams-ur-Rehman Swati has written a detailed letter to Balochistan Chief Minister Mir Sarfaraz Ahmed Khan Bugti following the tragic coal mine accident in Soranj, Quetta, in which 34 miners lost their lives, calling for a high-level independent inquiry, accountability of those responsible, immediate approval of the Balochistan Mines Act, and urgent reforms to improve mine safety.
In the letter, Swati described the Soranj tragedy as not merely an industrial accident but a reflection of systemic failures involving the state, regulatory authorities, mine owners, and the mine safety oversight mechanism. He noted that of the 34 deceased workers, 24 belonged to Pir Abad village in Shangla district, while the remaining 10 were from other areas of Shangla. Six members of the same family lost their lives in the disaster, including three brothers, a cousin, and two other close relatives. He also highlighted the heartbreaking case of a young miner who died just one week after his marriage, leaving several families devastated. The letter further pointed out that this was the third major fatal accident involving the same mine owners' group, citing the deaths of 11 miners in June 2024, 12 miners in January 2025, and now 34 miners in the Soranj disaster. Swati stressed that the repeated incidents clearly indicate serious deficiencies in mine safety standards, inspections, and regulatory enforcement, making an independent, impartial, and scientific investigation essential.
The National Labor Federation demanded the establishment of an independent high-level inquiry commission comprising international mine safety experts, technical specialists from the Pakistan Mineral Development Corporation (PMDC), occupational safety and health (OSH) experts, geologists, ventilation engineers, trade union representatives, and other independent professionals. The commission, he said, should be granted full legal authority to investigate the causes of the accident, identify those responsible, examine violations of safety regulations, and submit a comprehensive report within a specified timeframe.
The letter also called on the Balochistan government to immediately approve and implement the proposed Balochistan Mines Act, conduct an independent safety audit of all operational coal mines across the province, strengthen the office of the Chief Inspector of Mines with administrative autonomy, modern equipment, and adequate staffing, and initiate legal action against negligent mine owners and officials without discrimination. Among other recommendations, the NLF urged the government to introduce mandatory Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) training for all miners, supervisors, and mine managers; establish specialized mine rescue units equipped with modern rescue technology; ensure the availability of air ambulance services for emergency evacuations from remote mining areas; and announce a comprehensive rehabilitation package for the families of the deceased, including financial compensation, employment opportunities, education, healthcare, housing, and social security.
The letter also paid tribute to the services of the Chief Inspector of Mines Balochistan, Mines Inspectorate, Mines Labour Welfare Department, PDMA Balochistan, Rescue 1122, Al-Khidmat Foundation, FC Balochistan, Police, National Labor Federation Balochistan, and all volunteers who participated in the rescue operation under extremely difficult conditions. Concluding the letter, Shams-ur-Rehman Swati urged Chief Minister Sarfaraz Bugti to take personal interest in the matter and turn the Soranj tragedy into a decisive milestone for comprehensive reforms in Balochistan's mining sector, ensuring stronger legislation, effective accountability, improved mine safety standards, and lasting protection for the lives of miners to prevent similar tragedies in the future.