Unionists demands: ‘Govt should reveal report on Baldia factory fire’

The fire incident had occurred last year, when nearly 256 workers had lost lives and 55 were injured.

KARACHI:

The government should reveal the report of Justice (retd) Zahid Qurban Alavi’s commission on the Baldia factory fire, demanded trade unionists and members of the civil society on Friday.

Speaking at a press conference at Karachi Press Club, the speakers stressed the need provide justice to the factory workers by ensuring their health and safety at industrial and commercial establishments. They demanded penal action against  of those who were held responsible for the incident by the judicial commission in its report.

Pakistan Workers Confederation general secretary Noor Muhammad said that the labour movement of Karachi has chalked out a number of programmes to observe the first anniversary of the fire incident that occurred last year, when nearly 256 workers had lost lives and 55 were injured.

“To mark the anniversary, on the evening of September 10, a memorial vigil would be held, where the trade unionists and civil society activists, members of the victims’ families would gather at the site of the factory and observe one-minute silence,” he said.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 7^th, 2013.