Sorange mine tragedy

The Sorange coalmine tragedy on July 30 devoured 30 lives. The tragedy was caused by a gas explosion in this coalmine of Balochistan. Twenty-eight of the victims belonged to Shangla district of Khyber-Pakhtunkhawa. In 2011, as many as 45 miners had lost their lives in a similar incident in the same coalmine. The latest tragedy has brought into sharp focus the of-repeated questions related to miners' safety as well as their compulsion to work under dangerous conditions merely due to the lack of job opportunities in Balochistan, as well as in K-P. According to Pakistan Economic Survey, poverty in Balochistan stands at a 47%, with unemployment being the chief reason. It is about time the provincial government took steps to carry out meaningful reforms in the mining sector and ensure safe working conditions for miners and adequate remuneration. Simultaneously, steps should be taken to create employment opportunities for the youth of Balochistan. Muhammad Haris Mastung