Over 300 Orakzai miners unpaid for six months

PESHAWAR: More than 300 mine workers in the Chapar Mishti mining area of Upper Orakzai district have gone without wages for the past six months, leaving many families in severe financial distress.

The affected labourers are largely from Shangla district, where over 66 per cent of the population depends directly or indirectly on mining for its livelihood. For years, workers from Shangla have travelled to mining sites across Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa and other parts of the country, taking up dangerous underground work to support their households.

Coal miners routinely descend deep below ground to extract coal under hazardous conditions, and fatal accidents remain a recurring feature of the sector. Bodies of workers killed in mine incidents, as well as those who suffer serious injuries, are often brought back to their native villages in Shangla.

Against that backdrop, the non-payment of wages for half a year has added to the difficulties faced by the workers and their families. The miners said the continuing delay in payments has made it increasingly difficult to meet basic household needs.

The workers have also alleged that some local miscreants are taking advantage of disputes between lease holders and contractors to threaten them on a daily basis. They said the situation has placed their lives, dignity and means of earning at risk.

Labour unions and support organisations have condemned the situation and called for immediate official action. In a joint appeal, the miners urged the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa government, the army, the corps commander, the chief minister, the chief inspector of mines and the inspector general of police to step in without delay.

They asked the authorities to ensure protection for the workers and their property, compel contractors and lease holders to clear all outstanding dues, and initiate strict legal action against those accused of issuing threats.