Islamabad:

The Supreme Court Justice Jamal Khan Mandokhail has called on the government to recognize mining as a formal industry and highlight the harsh and often regrettable conditions that workers face, especially miners in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan.

He made the comments while approaching a high -level national conference under the theme “Workers and Employers in 2025: Navigation of Change with Harmony”.

By delivering the keynote speaker as a main guest, Justice Mandokhail emphasized that employers and workers in the eyes and Islam are equal, and the Supreme Court stands as the ultimate guardian of their rights.

He expressed deep concern about the absence of institutional protection measures for miners and called for legal and administrative reforms to ensure their protection and welfare.

“A judge must follow the law, but justice is not limited to the courts. Each person is responsible for ensuring justice in their actions,” he said.

He quoted Article 17 of the Constitution and noted that the right to association is a fundamental right and added that unions must work to protect legal rights while promoting harmony. “Cordial relations and mutual consultation between employees and employers can help reduce the growing backlog of work -related cases in courts,” he observed.

Justice Jawad Hassan of Lahore High Court praised Pakistan’s legislative framework for labor rights and said the country has a long -lasting tradition of progressive labor legislation that started with industrial connecting ordinance from 1969.

In his opening notes, Justice (RETD) SHAUKAT AZIZ SIDDIQUI, chairman of NIRC, said the commission’s core mandate is to keep the national industry forward while protecting workers’ interests.

The famous juristryer Dr. Zafarullah Khan quoted the Holy Qur’an by stating that the mission of the prophets was to establish justice.