SHANGLA: Federal Minister for Kashmir Affairs, Gilgit-Baltistan and SAFRON and President of Pakistan Muslim League-N (PML-N) Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Engr. Amir Muqam has said that an FIR has been registered regarding the Quetta coal mine accident and that action will be taken against those responsible in accordance with the law. He said the federal government would extend all possible assistance to the affected families.
He expressed these views while addressing a ceremony held at the Jirga Hall in Alpuri, Shangla, on Wednesday, where financial assistance cheques were distributed among the families of the victims of the Quetta coal mine explosion. Member of the Provincial Assembly Rashad Khan, local PML-N leadership, and senior officials of the Ministry of Overseas Pakistanis and Human Resource Development also attended the ceremony.
Addressing the gathering, Engr. Amir Muqam said the federal government stood with the affected families in this difficult time. He said his purpose in visiting Shangla was not merely to distribute cheques but also to directly assess the problems being faced by the bereaved families.
He directed senior officials of the relevant institutions to extend every possible cooperation to resolve the families’ issues and said that additional assistance cheques would also be provided soon. He reiterated that the federal government would continue to provide all possible support to the affected families.
The federal minister said workers from Shangla were employed across all four provinces of the country. He announced that an Employees’ Old-Age Benefits Institution (EOBI) office would be established in Shangla by the Ministry of Overseas Pakistanis to facilitate workers.
He stressed that representatives of all four provinces and workers’ representatives should sit together and formulate a comprehensive solution to improve safety standards in coal mines.
He said an FIR had been registered in connection with the Quetta coal mine accident and an inquiry committee had also been constituted to investigate the incident. He assured that those found responsible would face legal action.
He further said that all legitimate demands of coal mine workers would be addressed soon. The Worker Welfare Fund would bear the educational expenses of children of workers who lost their lives in mining accidents, including their school and college fees, hostel charges and other educational expenses.
The federal minister said every person with a sense of humanity would come forward to help the affected families. He added that public service, development and prosperity remained the central focus of the PML-N.
He also urged the provincial government to take practical measures to support and assist the affected families.
Muqam said that children from Shangla would be equipped with professional skills through a skill-development scheme. He thanked Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif for announcing a Cadet/Daanish School for Shangla, saying that children from the district would receive free education there. He added that construction of the Daanish School would begin as soon as suitable land was made available in Shangla.
The federal minister said he had always played his role in the development of Shangla. He highlighted the establishment of three grid stations and the construction of roads in various tehsils of the district, including the Besham Road.
Speaking about national and international developments, he said the respect and achievements Pakistan had gained were a success for the entire Pakistani nation. He said the whole nation was proud of the defence agreement between Pakistan and Saudi Arabia, adding that the efforts of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Field Marshal Asim Munir had brought success for Pakistan and the Muslim Ummah.
He said Pakistan’s standing in the international community had improved following the “Marka-e-Haq,” and that Pakistanis were now being viewed with greater respect around the world.
Regarding petroleum prices, the federal minister said the increase in global petroleum prices was also affecting Pakistan. He said that once global peace and stability returned to international markets, the benefits would be passed on directly to the people.
He reiterated that the PML-N was a party of the people and that the government was fully aware of the difficulties being faced by the public.
Secretary Workers Welfare Fund Zulfiqar Khan, senior government officials, the Deputy Commissioner of Shangla, MPA Muhammad Rashad Khan, other party office-bearers and a large number of affected families were also present on the occasion.
