Balochistan Battles Dual Crises: Coal Mine Tragedies and Rising Poppy Cultivation
Balochistan faces grave concerns over a spate of coal mine accidents and rising poppy cultivation. With three mine incidents in six days leaving fatalities, and lawmakers warning of a burgeoning drug crisis, the region grapples with safety and socio-economic issues. Human rights remain a focal point for scrutiny.
- Country:
- Pakistan
Balochistan, the oft-turbulent province of Pakistan, is facing dual crises: a surge in fatal coal mine accidents and an alarming increase in poppy cultivation. In just under a week, three tragic mining incidents have claimed five lives and injured three others, prompting serious concerns regarding miner safety.
On Tuesday, a deadly explosion at the Duki coal mine in Harnai district, triggered by toxic gas buildup, resulted in two deaths and left three miners wounded. This incident followed closely on the heels of another explosion in the Orakzai region that killed three Shangla miners. A separate accident also claimed the life of a mine manager last week.
Meanwhile, Balochistan lawmakers sounded alarms over the burgeoning poppy cultivation, now shifting into Pakistani regions after Afghanistan's opium ban. The move, according to lawmakers like MPA Zabid Reki and Abdul Malik Baloch, threatens societal stability and demands immediate legal intervention. Human rights issues remain prominent as the province continues to endure violence and economic disparity.
(With inputs from agencies.)
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