KABUL: A group of young people protested at the “Alpurai” intersection in the Shangla district of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, blocking the Bisham-Swat highway in response to the ongoing illegal extraction of coal mines.
According to Pakistan’s Dawn newspaper, the protesters stated that illegal coal mining in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan provinces has claimed the lives of 7,000 individuals and left 8,000 others disabled, urging the government to halt illegal activities in these mines.
They also voiced concerns regarding unsafe mining practices, which they believe have led to increased casualties among miners.
Fazal Mahbood, one of the protesters, reported that 7,000 residents of Shangla have died in accidents during coal extraction, with another 8,000 becoming disabled.
Local officials in Shangla have formed a 13-member committee to address the protesters’ demands after discussions aimed at ending the demonstrations.
Shangla is located in the northern region of Pakistan and is part of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
7,000 miners killed in Pakistan; Protesters demand closure of illegal coal mines
