Commissionerate of mines labour welfare Khyber Pakhtunkhwa on Saturday distributed grants among the heirs of dead coalminers, crippled and pulmonary disease patients, 29, Rs 1.2 million death grant cheques handed over to the heirs.
The grants distribution ceremony was held at district Jirga hall in Alpuri where commissioner Mines Labour Welfare department, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Muhammad Tahir, deputy commissioner, Shangla Muhammad Fawad, MPA Abdul Munim, Shangla coalmine worker association, spokesperson, Abid Yar, Pakistan Mines Labour welfare federation, Bisham tehsil chairman, Sadeed Ur Rehman, Noorullah Yousafzai and other local notables were present.
The commissioner, Muhammad Tahir handed over 29 death grants cheques of Rs 1.2 million each to the deceased miners heirs died in 2023 in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa coalmines, while 26 crippled men who were injured in the coal mines incidents also given Rs 500,000 to 600,000 each.
Similarly, Rs 300,000 cheques gave away to 16 patients who were suffering from pulmonary disease those diagnosed with the illness during work in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa coalmines.
Addressing the ceremony, commissioner Mines Labour Welfare, Muhammad Tahir said for the first time they paid Rs 1.2 million death grant as it was low before but now the government was striving to support the deceased miners families thoroughly.
He said workers were their main assets and they also struggling to ensure safety at the workplace as well as work on the welfare of labour and their families.
MPA Abdul Munim said the Shangla every third house had a tragic story of their coalminer loved ones who lost their lives in search of bread and butter but they wanted to secure their poor people lives and provide facilities like being provided in the other areas workers families.
Abid Yar, Shangla coalmine worker association, spokesperson complained about the registration issue of workers, EOBI did not register them as well nor paid pensions to the labour.
He said there was no welfare school, hospital, colony despite a highest number of labour were from Shangla but the benefits were being taken by the major cities people.
Bisham tehsil chairman, Sadeed ur Rehman urged the mines labour welfare department to extend the benefits of it to Shangla and facilitate the Shangla labour while working on their welfare to improve their lives.
He also suggested the local people avoid sending your young school going children to coalmines and get them educated and try to start your small business and it would be beneficial as Shangla had huge potential of tourism.
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