QUETTA: Pakistan’s Federal Minister for Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan Affairs Amir Muqam on Saturday urged the Balochistan government to hold a transparent inquiry into a coal mine explosion that killed 34 people this week.
The explosion, suspected to be caused by methane gas, took place in Sorange, around 50 kilometers from the provincial capital of Quetta. Authorities carried out a rescue operation that ran through the night.
“The minister contacted Balochistan Chief Minister Sarfraz Bugti by telephone and urged a transparent and comprehensive investigation into the tragedy, while the provincial government assured a full inquiry into the incident,” the state-run Associated Press of Pakistan (APP) reported.
As per the report, a large number of the victims belonged to the northwestern Shangla district.
During his conversation with Bugti, Muqam stressed the need to determine the causes of the explosion and ensure accountability through an impartial investigation, APP said.
“The Balochistan chief minister assured him that a complete probe would be conducted, and all aspects of the incident would be thoroughly examined,” the statement said.
Authorities completed a 40-hour search operation to recover all 34 bodies of the miners on Saturday morning, Balochistan Chief Mining Inspector Muhammad Atif told Arab News.
“The collapsed mining site has been sealed while an FIR will be lodged against the coal mine owners for not maintaining safety protocols for the miners,” he added.
Mining accidents are common in Pakistan, particularly in Balochistan, and labor rights movements have previously called for ramped-up safety standards and enforcement for the sector.
Pakistan’s poorest province and largest by landmass, Balochistan lags behind the rest of the country in almost every index, including education, employment and economic development, but is rich in resources including coal — as well as more lucrative gold and copper reserves.
