Over 40,000 Laborers Leave Duki After Terror Attack on Coal Mines

Noor Zaman Achakzai

Quetta: Over 40,000 laborers have returned to their hometowns following the October 11 terrorist attack on coal mines in Duki, Balochistan.

The labor association reported on Saturday that the prevailing insecurity has led to a suspension of coal supply throughout the district, and mine owners have reportedly failed to settle outstanding dues for the workers.

This situation arises one week after unidentified armed assailants launched a deadly attack with rockets on local coal mines in Duki, resulting in the deaths of 20 miners. The attackers reportedly gathered the miners in one location before opening fire, employing hand grenades and rockets during the assault.

Haji Khairullah Nasir, the owner of the coal mines and District Chairman, indicated that 10 coal mines in the area were targeted, with the attackers also setting mining machinery ablaze.

According to the labor association, approximately 50,000 non-local workers typically operate in over 1,200 mines in the district, supplying nearly 150 truckloads of coal to Sindh, Punjab, and other cities in Balochistan.

The suspension of coal supply has had a significant impact on industrial production in the country. Balochistan’s coal reserves exceed 250 million tonnes, with around 80,000 workers employed in 2,600 coal mines.

The provincial government has announced a compensation of Rs1.5 million for the families of the workers killed in the Duki attack. However, the association noted that the families of the 20 laborers, including six from Afghanistan, have yet to receive this compensation.

The report has been published on the Geo News website and is reproduced by PenPK.com.