SHANGLA: Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly Opposition Leader Dr Ibadullah Khan has said financial compensation cannot replace the lives of young men from Shangla who have died in coal mine accidents, stressing the need for safe and sustainable employment opportunities within the district.
He made the remarks at a ceremony at the Jirga Hall in Alpurai, where cheques of Rs2 million each were distributed among families of coal mine accident victims on behalf of the federal government.
Dr Ibadullah said Shangla is a mountainous and economically underdeveloped district with limited employment opportunities, forcing many young people to travel to other parts of the country, particularly coal mines, to earn a living.
Call for Jobs in Shangla
The PML-N leader said local employment, technical training, skills development, small businesses and other economic activities should be expanded so young people can earn a livelihood without leaving their families for hazardous work.
He said he and Federal Minister Engineer Amir Muqam were working to create employment opportunities for Shangla’s youth within the district.
Dr Ibadullah also stressed the importance of improving safety standards in coal mines, including protective equipment, modern facilities and safer working conditions.
Families Receive Financial Assistance
According to the details shared at the ceremony, the families received Rs2 million each in the latest round of assistance. An earlier payment of Rs1.2 million per family had also been distributed.
The federal government has announced total financial assistance of Rs3.2 million per martyr, with the remaining payments being processed.
Dr Ibadullah said government support for bereaved families should go beyond financial assistance and include long-term measures to create permanent employment opportunities in Shangla.
The ceremony was attended by district administration officials, National Disaster Management Authority representatives, PML-N leaders and workers, as well as families of the deceased. The event concluded with prayers for the victims and patience for their families.
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