PESHAWAR: Rescue crews using heavy machinery recovered 14 more bodies from a collapsed marble mine in northwestern Pakistan on Tuesday, raising the death toll from the incident to 22, officials said.
The cause of the cave-in had not been determined. Mining accidents are common in Pakistan, where safety regulations are often ignored.
An estimated 35 miners were loading marble onto trucks Monday when huge boulders fell on them at the mine in the Mohmand district near the Afghan border.
The first eight bodies were pulled out the same day, while 14 more were retrieved after daylong rescue operation Tuesday, said Khateer Ahmad, who heads the state-run emergency service in the northwest.
He said there were still more miners trapped under the huge boulders.
According to the provincial labor minister, Shaukat Yousafzai, the cave-in also injured nine miners.
There was speculation among local residents that explosives were detonated to extract the marble, triggering a rockslide. Officials said an investigation was still underway to determine the cause of the cave-in.
Death toll from collapsed mine in NW Pakistan rises to 22
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Death toll from collapsed mine in NW Pakistan rises to 22
- Around 35 miners were loading marble onto trucks Monday when huge boulders fell on them in the Mohmand district
- Mining accidents are common in Pakistan, where safety regulations are often ignored
Minister says Pakistan plans up to four new deep-sea ports with focus on environment
- The government says it wants to build green energy and digital systems into new ports
- The move aims to ease pressure on existing ports amid efforts to boost regional trade
KARACHI: Pakistan plans to build three to four new deep-sea ports to support long-term growth in trade and logistics, placing environmental protection at the center of port development policy, Federal Minister for Maritime Affairs Junaid Anwar Chaudhry said on Wednesday.
The plan aims to ease congestion at existing ports and prepare for future demand as Pakistan seeks to expand its role in regional trade routes, according to a statement issued after a meeting chaired by Chaudhry.
“Planning deep-sea ports requires a balance between economic growth and environmental protection,” Chaudhry said, according to the statement issued after the meeting. “The development of the maritime sector over the next hundred years is a national priority.”
The ministry said the government was working on a commercial framework to reduce pressure on major ports, warning that alternative arrangements must be put in place before existing facilities reach full capacity.
Chaudhry said mangroves and coastal ecosystems would be protected as part of the port policy, while new facilities would incorporate green energy solutions and modern digital systems to improve efficiency and sustainability.
He added new ports would play a key role in promoting regional trade and logistics, as Pakistan seeks to modernize its maritime infrastructure and position itself as a hub for shipping and transit.
