SC calls for tangible report on silicosis deaths

Expresses shock that 66 stone-crushing units were operating without a licence

ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court on Saturday expressed shock over the revelation that 66 out of 82 stone-crushing factories in Punjab were functioning without an operating licence.

The court was commenting on an interim report submitted by Punjab Local Government Secretary Khalid Masood Chaudhry regarding the operation of stone-crushing units in 16 districts.

The three-member bench, headed by Chief Justice Nasirul Mulk, was hearing the suo motu case regarding the death of 18 stone-crushing laborers in Gujranwala. The report said burning, grinding of metal stone or stoning of lime for sale falls within “dangerous and offensive article and trade in terms of paragraphs 44 read with serial No 13 of six schedule of the Punjab Local Government Ordinance 2001”. Similarly, as envisaged in sub-para (2) of paragraph 44, no person shall carry any dangerous or offensive trade except in conformity with the condition of licence granted by the concerned local government, it added.

The report maintained that there are 144 TMAs in Punjab and collection of data on the number of stone grinding and crushing licenses issued by TMAs is a cumbersome exercise therefore, the LG department will be able to provide the details within a fortnight.


Published in The Express Tribune, January 11^th, 2015.