Mining Disasters

April 03, 2026

Newspaper, Opinions, Editorials

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The state of Pakistan may have entered the 21st century with all its bells and whistles and technological advancements, but one sector remains firmly stuck in the past, closer to the beginning of the last century than the present day. Nine workers were killed when a marble mine collapsed in Rustam Tehsil in Mardan, while 12 others remain trapped inside. Tragically, this is the kind of story that no longer shocks; such incidents have become disturbingly routine.

Mining in Pakistan remains dangerously underregulated, and workers continue to endure harsh and often inhumane conditions. Safety equipment, where it exists, is outdated and insufficient. Collapses are frequent, and while all mining carries inherent risk, the scale and frequency of such disasters in Pakistan point to systemic neglect rather than unavoidable hazard. The issue is not simply risk, but the failure to mitigate it through basic standards and enforcement.

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Even as rescue operations continue, the conversation cannot end with recovery efforts alone. The real test lies in whether authorities are willing to enforce modern safety protocols, mandate proper equipment, and ensure that mining operations are conducted with structural integrity and oversight. Without this, each rescue will merely precede the next tragedy.

Miners, who extract the country’s mineral and fossil fuel wealth, deserve recognition equal to that afforded to farmers and soldiers. They too labour under dangerous conditions, placing their lives at risk for the country’s economic benefit. It is not enough to offer sympathy after disaster strikes; what they require is protection before it does.

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