More than 300 mine workers in the Chapar Mishti mining area of Upper Orakzai district, Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, have been deprived of their hard-earned wages for the past six months, pushing them and their families into acute financial hardship and the brink of starvation, according to reports from the region.
Workers from Shangla Bear the Brunt
Most of the affected labourers belong to Shangla district, where more than 66 per cent of the population relies directly or indirectly on mining for survival. For generations, thousands of men from Shangla have ventured into hazardous mining regions across Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa and other parts of the country, descending thousands of feet underground to extract coal, often placing their lives at grave risk just to provide halal sustenance for their families.
Tragically, fatal accidents are a regular occurrence in these mines, with the bodies or severely injured workers frequently being brought back to their ancestral homes in Shangla. Now, the prolonged delay in wage payments has compounded their miseries, leaving entire families struggling to meet basic needs.
Threats and Exploitation
The workers have accused certain local miscreants of exploiting ongoing disputes between lease holders and contractors to issue daily threats against them. These intimidations have put the labourers' lives, honour, and livelihoods in serious jeopardy. Labour unions and support organisations have strongly condemned the situation and demanded swift government action.
Appeal for Intervention
In a joint appeal, the affected miners have called upon the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa government, army, Corps Commander, Chief Minister, Chief Inspector of Mines, and Inspector General of Police to intervene immediately. They have urged the authorities to ensure the protection of workers' lives and property, direct the contractors and lease holders to clear all pending dues without further delay, and take strict legal action against those issuing threats.
The miners' plight highlights the ongoing vulnerabilities in the mining sector, where workers often face hazardous conditions and irregular payments. Local leaders and human rights groups have echoed the call for urgent measures to prevent further suffering and potential unrest.
