Industrial fires, electrical accidents: Minister for effective implementation of workplace safety laws

KARACHI: Sindh Minister for Labour, Human Resources and Social Protection Saeed Ghani on Thursday stressed that workers’ lives must take precedence over industrial production and profits, calling for effective implementation of workplace safety laws to prevent industrial fires and electrical accidents.

Referring to the September 2012 Baldia factory fire, which claimed 259 lives, he said the tragedy remained a painful reminder of the consequences of inadequate safety arrangements and underscored the need for practical measures to protect workers.

He was speaking as chief guest at a seminar on Electrical Safety and Fire Prevention Awareness, organised by the Sindh Labour department in collaboration with the German development agency GIZ at a local hotel.

Ghani said Sindh’s industrial sector was vital to Pakistan’s economy, generating employment, supporting exports and sustaining local businesses. However, economic growth must go hand in hand with human dignity and safe working conditions.

“A worker’s life is far more valuable than any machine, export consignment or profit margin,” he said, emphasising that workplace safety was a shared responsibility of the government, employers and workers.

He questioned whether factories had functional fire alarms, unobstructed emergency exits, properly maintained electrical installations and usable firefighting equipment, adding that workers must also be trained to respond effectively to emergencies.

The minister said the Sindh Factories Act 2015 and the Sindh Occupational Safety and Health Act 2017 provided a legal framework for protecting workers from occupational hazards. However, he stressed that legislation could deliver results only through effective implementation, regular monitoring and enforcement.

Under the awareness campaign, factories will receive educational materials, including posters, animated videos and digital content, to promote electrical safety and fire prevention.

The initiative also envisages workplace awareness sessions, induction training for new employees and refresher programmes to help workers identify risks and respond safely to emergencies.

Ghani urged the factory owners and managements to conduct regular risk assessments, maintain electrical systems, ensure proper fire safety arrangements and keep emergency exits clear. He also called for workers to be actively involved in safety procedures and encouraged to report hazards without their concerns being ignored.

He asked the Directorate General of Labour and occupational safety and health centres to strengthen risk-based inspections, document deficiencies and verify corrective measures. Serious or repeated violations, he said, should be dealt with under the applicable law, alongside technical guidance to help employers comply with safety requirements.

Emphasising coordination among government agencies, he called for stronger cooperation between the Labour Department, electrical inspection authorities, firefighting services, Civil Defence, Rescue 1122 and building regulatory bodies to improve workplace safety and emergency preparedness.

The Minister said the campaign’s success should be measured not by the number of awareness materials distributed but by safer workplace practices, timely correction of hazards and improved emergency response.

Occupational safety was also important for Sindh’s export competitiveness, as international markets and global supply chains increasingly demanded verifiable standards for safe and responsible production.

?Ghani thanked GIZ, German development cooperation and the European Union for supporting the initiative under the Better Governance and Business Environment programme.

?He urged participating factories and industrial associations to ensure that the materials were properly used, safety drills conducted and corrective actions regularly reviewed. Sindh Labour Secretary Sajid Jamal Abro, Better Governance and Business Environment representatives, Employers’ Federation of Pakistan Secretary General Syed Nazir Ali, Pakistan Peoples Party Labour Bureau Sindh President Habibuddin Junaidi and other speakers also addressed the seminar. Industrial employers, labour representatives and Labour Department officials attended. Ghani formally inaugurated the electrical safety and fire prevention awareness campaign at the conclusion of the event.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2026