By Sardar Khan Niazi

Deep beneath the earth, far from the glare of public scrutiny, Pakistan’s miners extract the coal and minerals that fuel industry and livelihoods. Yet the hands that power this economy remain among the invisible and vulnerable in the country. Fatal accidents, chronic illness, bonded labor and the absence of social protection continue to define mining communities. Safeguarding miners’ human rights is not merely a labor issue; it is a test of the state’s commitment to dignity, justice and the rule of law. Mining is one of Pakistan’s most hazardous occupations. From coalfields in Baluchistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa to salt and mineral mines elsewhere, workers routinely face unsafe shafts, inadequate ventilation, poor lighting and obsolete equipment. Explosions, collapses and toxic gas exposure claim lives with alarming regularity. Survivors often suffer lifelong disabilities such as silicosis and other respiratory diseases, yet compensation and medical care remain uncertain or entirely absent. These are avoidable tragedies; they are preventable outcomes of weak regulation and lax enforcement. At the heart of the problem lies a structural imbalance of power. Many miners are hired through informal contractors, without written contracts, job security or access to grievance mechanisms. Wages are often delayed or arbitrarily cut. In some regions, bonded labor persists through advance payments that trap families in cycles of debt. Migrant workers, who form a significant portion of the workforce, face additional barriers due to language, isolation and fear of retaliation. When accidents occur, accountability is diffused across layers of contractors and sub-contractors, leaving families to fend for themselves. Pakistan’s legal framework is not devoid of protections. Provincial mining acts, labor laws and international commitments, including core ILO conventions, recognize the right to safe working conditions and fair treatment. The problem is not the absence of laws but their uneven application. Independent inspections, mandatory safety training, and the use of certified equipment. Technology from gas........

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