Mineral-rich Mianwali hit by lack of basic facilities

Thousands of labourers working in salt mines are at risk due to lack of protection

MIANWALI: The district of Mianwali is often considered as one of the most deprived areas in southern Punjab despite the region’s mineral resources and the high quality salt extracted from this area.

Salt is extracted from the mines of Kalabagh and Mari Indus while coal is extracted from the Makarwal Kalrez in large quantities. Gypsum is extracted from Iskandarabad, aluminum from Tola Bangi Khel and petrol is extracted from Shakarkarda.

Sources added that there is a lack of basic facilities such as safe drinking water, provision of education and medical facilities in the district. The mines, which are benefiting the national exchequer by earning millions of rupees in revenue, are the places where thousands of labourers lose their lives due to lack of inadequate protection measures, sources further said. It is considered a death valley for labourers and they are exploited by the contractors, they added.

As per the law, the mines are supposed to be closed in the rainy season but work continued in this weather at the Mari Indus Kakranwala mine.

As a result, a portion of mine collapsed and six labourers died. Rescue 1122 workers started an operation and retrieved their bodies from the rubble after a week.

Sources said that accumulation of gas in the coal mine Makarwal and brake failure of the train made hundreds of labourers disabled. A large number of workers have lost their lives in accidents. They added that iron ore is extracted from Tula Bhangi Khel where at least four people died in a road accident. The government and contractors are earning millions of rupees from the place but they are not interested in taking preventive measures to save lives, they added.