ISLAMABAD – Supreme Court Judge Justice Jamal Khan Mandokhail on Thursday called for the formal recognition of mining as an industry in Pakistan, citing the hazardous and often inhumane working conditions faced by miners, particularly in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan.
Speaking at a high-level national conference themed “Workers and Employers in 2025: Navigating Change with Harmony”, Justice Mandokhail stressed that mining’s status as an informal sector has left thousands of workers vulnerable and without proper legal protections. He urged the government to introduce comprehensive legal and administrative reforms to safeguard their rights and welfare.
“In both the law and Islam, workers and employers are equals,” he said, emphasizing the Supreme Court’s role in upholding their rights. He also highlighted the importance of trade unions in promoting harmony while protecting legal entitlements, citing Article 17 of the Constitution which guarantees the right to association.
The mineral sector, despite contributing only 3.2% to the national GDP, has been repeatedly identified by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif as a potential economic game-changer. The PM has claimed that if Pakistan effectively harnessed its mineral wealth, it could reduce or even eliminate reliance on global lenders like the IMF.
The event was organized by the National Industrial Relations Commission (NIRC) in collaboration with the International Labour Organisation (ILO) Pakistan, in observance of International Labour Day.
Justice Jawad Hassan of the Lahore High Court praised Pakistan’s labour legislation legacy, beginning with the Industrial Relations Ordinance of 1969, and noted the country’s commitment to nearly all 48 international labour conventions.
Justice (Retd) Shaukat Aziz Siddiqui, Chairman of NIRC, reaffirmed the commission’s mission to balance industrial growth with the protection of workers, while jurist Barrister Dr. Zafarullah Khan underscored the Islamic view of labour as a dignified act of worship rooted in justice and equity.
Despite its significance, the mining sector remains plagued by dangerous working conditions, with miners exposed to poorly ventilated shafts, cave-in risks, and long-term health hazards.
