Gadani — From tragedy to scandal

Hundreds die every year and thousands are injured because life is cheap as is labour

It is unlikely that it will ever be known beyond some very broad information exactly what caused the explosion on the hulk of the 24,000 ton ‘MT Aces’ on November 1^st at the Gadani shipbreaking yard. Poor or completely absent safety procedures are likely to be at the bottom of this tragic incident and there are numerous reports supported by solid evidence from eyewitnesses and online, that safety equipment was absent for most workers and unsafe working practices the norm rather than the exception. Gadani is a rolling accident continuously ‘in process’ rather than an accident waiting to happen.

Tragedy has become scandal as the days following the incident have unfolded. Firstly there is the matter of conflicting figures — a matter never likely to be resolved as it appears that the only man who knew exactly how many were working on the ship at the time himself died in the explosion. There are at least two figures for fatalities, the lowest being 26 and the highest 70. There are 90 reportedly ‘missing’ which is entirely possible given the severity of the explosion and the complete destruction of bodies. Simply — we may never know, but it is not unreasonable to posit a figure of 150+ dead. Many of the known dead and missing came not from the local area but from Dir, Swat, K-P and Shangla to name but a few. Men will go where the work is, no matter how dangerous.

Shipbreaking is big business, and profitable. Gadani is one of the largest breaking yards in the world and the governments, provincial and federal, cannot be allowed to walk away from this wringing their hands and offering condolences. Industrial accidents are common in Pakistan as are fatalities. Hundreds die every year and thousands are injured. Life is cheap as is labour. Who cares? Very few, and nobody that has the power to change anything. There are no votes in safety legislation. The government(s) are said to be ‘investigating’ but there is no expectation of a cultural shift in terms of the industrial safety paradigm. Gadani — from tragedy to scandal in one easy move.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 13^th, 2016.

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