More than 300 mine workers employed in the Chapar Meshti mining area of Upper Orakzai have allegedly remained unpaid for the past six months, leaving hundreds of families in severe financial distress. A large number of the affected labourers belong to Shangla district, where mining is one of the primary sources of livelihood.
Workers Appeal for Intervention
The workers have appealed to the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government and other relevant authorities to take immediate notice of the matter, ensure the payment of their outstanding wages, and guarantee the safety and security of workers employed in the mining sector. According to the affected workers, the prolonged non-payment of salaries has pushed many families to the brink of poverty, with several struggling to meet even their basic household expenses.
Impact on Families
They said many workers are facing severe financial hardship and are unable to provide adequate food, education, and healthcare for their families due to the continued delay in the payment of their wages. The majority of the affected labourers are reportedly residents of Shangla, a district where more than 66 percent of the population is directly or indirectly dependent on the mining industry for employment.
Hazardous Working Conditions
Thousands of workers from Shangla travel to mining areas across Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and other parts of the country to earn a livelihood, often working under extremely hazardous conditions. Mine workers from Shangla descend thousands of feet underground every day to extract coal, risking their lives to earn a lawful living for their families. However, fatal mining accidents remain a recurring tragedy, with workers frequently returning to their hometowns either injured or in coffins after accidents inside coal mines.
Demands for Action
Representatives of the mine workers, labour unions, and several workers’ organisations have urged the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government, the Pakistan Army, the Corps Commander Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, the Chief Minister, the Chief Inspector of Mines, and the Inspector General of Police to intervene without delay. They demanded the immediate payment of all outstanding wages by the concerned contractor and leaseholder, protection for workers at mining sites, and strict legal action against those allegedly involved in threatening or intimidating labourers.
Threat of Protests
The workers warned that if their legitimate demands are not addressed immediately, they would be compelled to launch protest demonstrations and boycott mining operations across the country. They maintained that responsibility for any disruption in the mining sector would rest with the relevant authorities if timely action was not taken.
