SC judge urges govt to grant industry status to mining

Supreme Court Justice Jamal Khan Mandokhail has urged the government to recognise mining as a formal industry, highlighting the harsh and often deplorable conditions faced by workers, particularly miners in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan.

He made the remarks while addressing a high-level national conference under the theme "Workers and Employers in 2025: Navigating Change with Harmony".

Delivering the keynote address as chief guest, Justice Mandokhail emphasised that in the eyes of law and Islam, employers and workers are equal, and the Supreme Court stands as the ultimate guardian of their rights.

He expressed deep concern over the absence of institutional safeguards for mine workers and called for legal and administrative reforms to ensure their protection and welfare.

"A judge must follow law, but justice is not limited to the courts. Every individual is responsible for ensuring justice in their actions," he said.

Quoting Article 17 of the Constitution, he noted that the right to association is a fundamental right and added that labour unions must work to protect legal rights while promoting harmony. "Cordial relations and mutual consultation between employees and employers can help reduce the growing backlog of labour-related cases in courts," he observed.

Justice Jawad Hassan of the Lahore High Court praised Pakistan's legislative framework for labour rights, saying the country has a long-standing tradition of progressive labour laws, starting with the Industrial Relations Ordinance of 1969.

In his opening remarks, Justice (retd) Shaukat Aziz Siddiqui, Chairman of NIRC, said the commission's core mandate is to keep the national industry moving forward while safeguarding workers' interests.

Renowned jurist Barrister Dr Zafarullah Khan cited the Holy Quran in stating that the mission of the prophets was to establish justice.