Federal govt to continue all possible support for affected families: Muqam
\n SHANGLA
\nFederal Minister for Kashmir Affairs, Gilgit-Baltistan and SAFRON and President Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Engineer Amir Muqam, has said that an FIR has been registered regarding the tragic Soorang Coal Mine accident in Quetta, while an inquiry committee has also been constituted to investigate the incident. He said that those found responsible would be proceeded against in accordance with the law.
\nHe expressed these views while addressing a ceremony held at Jirga Hall, Alpuri, Shangla, on Wednesday, where financial assistance cheques were distributed among the heirs of miners who lost their lives in the tragic Soorang Coal Mine accident in Balochistan.
\nEngineer Amir Muqam said the federal government stood firmly with the affected families in this hour of grief and would continue to extend all possible assistance and support to them.
\nThe ceremony was attended by Member of the Provincial Assembly Muhammad Rashad Khan, Secretary Workers Welfare Fund (WWF) Zulfiqar Ahmed, Deputy Commissioner Shangla, local PML-N leadership, senior officials of the Ministry of Overseas Pakistanis and Human Resource Development, party office-bearers and a large number of affected families.
\nThe Federal Minister said that the Workers Welfare Fund, Islamabad, had distributed financial assistance cheques worth *Rs. 1 million each* among the heirs of the miners who lost their lives in the Soorang Coal Mine accident in Balochistan.
\nHe said the cheques had been issued on the special instructions of Federal Minister for Overseas Pakistanis and Human Resource Development Chaudhry Salik Hussain. The assistance was aimed at providing immediate financial relief to the bereaved families and assuring them of the government\u2019s support during this difficult time.
\nEngineer Amir Muqam said that his visit was not merely aimed at distributing assistance cheques but also at directly assessing the problems and needs of the affected families. He directed the relevant authorities to extend maximum possible cooperation to the families and said that additional assistance cheques would also be provided at the earliest.
\nHe said that workers from Shangla were contributing their services across all four provinces in search of employment and, therefore, effective measures were essential to address their issues. He announced that an *Employees\u2019 Old-Age Benefits Institution (EOBI) office would also be established in Shangla* to facilitate workers.
\nThe Federal Minister stressed the need for representatives of the relevant departments from all four provinces and workers\u2019 representatives to sit together and develop practical solutions for improving safety standards in coal mines so that such tragic incidents could be prevented in the future. He assured that all legitimate demands of coal mine workers would be addressed at the earliest.
\nEngineer Amir Muqam further announced that the *Workers Welfare Fund would bear the educational expenses of the children of miners who lost their lives in accidents*. The Fund would cover their school and college fees, hostel expenses and other educational costs.
\nHe said that every person with a spirit of humanity should come forward to support the affected families. He added that the PML-N\u2019s politics was centered on public service, development and prosperity, and the provincial government should also take practical steps to serve and support the bereaved families.
\nThe Federal Minister said that children of Shangla would be equipped with marketable skills through skill development schemes so that they could access better opportunities for dignified employment.
\nHe also thanked Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif for the gift of a *Daanish School for Shangla*, saying that children from the district would receive free education there. He said construction of the school would begin as soon as suitable land was made available.
\nEngineer Amir Muqam said he had always played his role in the development of Shangla. He noted that three grid stations had been established in the district, while road construction projects, including the Bisham Road and roads in various tehsils, had also been completed.
\nThe Federal Minister said that the respect and success earned by Pakistan was a success of the entire Pakistani nation. He said the whole nation was proud of the defence agreement between Pakistan and Saudi Arabia. He added that Pakistan and the Muslim Ummah had achieved successes through the efforts of Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif and Field Marshal Asim Munir.
\nHe said that following the Marka-e-Haq, Pakistan\u2019s standing and prestige had increased globally and Pakistani people were being viewed with greater respect at the international level.
\nEngineer Amir Muqam said that rising global petroleum prices were also having an impact on Pakistan. He expressed hope that once global peace and stability returned to international markets, the benefits would be passed on directly to the people. He reiterated that the PML-N was a party of the people and that the government was fully aware of the difficulties being faced by the public.
\nSpeaking on the occasion, Secretary Workers Welfare Fund Zulfiqar Ahmed said that the Workers Welfare Fund was fulfilling its responsibilities in a comprehensive manner for the welfare of the families of deceased miners and for securing a brighter future for their children. He said the distribution of Rs. 1 million assistance cheques among the heirs of the Soorang Coal Mine accident victims was part of these efforts.
\nZulfiqar Ahmed said that Federal Minister for Overseas Pakistanis and Human Resource Development Chaudhry Salik Hussain had taken immediate notice of the difficulties faced by the affected families and issued special directives, following which the Workers Welfare Fund, Islamabad, ensured the provision of financial assistance.
\nHe appreciated Chaudhry Salik Hussain\u2019s special interest, efforts and compassionate approach towards the affected families.
\nThe Secretary Workers Welfare Fund said the government was utilizing all available resources for the welfare and well-being of workers and their families. He assured that the Fund would continue to play its full role in meeting the educational and other legitimate needs of the children of deceased miners.
\nHe added that steps would continue to be taken in coordination with the relevant institutions to resolve the problems faced by the affected families.
\nAt the conclusion of the ceremony, Federal Minister Engineer Amir Muqam met the heirs of the deceased miners, listened to their concerns and assured them that the federal government would not leave them alone and would continue to provide all possible assistance and support.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Federal govt to continue all possible support for affected families: Muqam SHANGLA Federal Minister for Kashmir Affairs, Gilgit-Baltistan and SAFRON and President Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Engineer Amir Muqam, has said that an FIR has been registered regarding the tragic Soorang Coal Mine accident in Quetta, while an inquiry committee has also been […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":561578,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-561570","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-top-news"],"yoast_head":"\n