LAHORE: The 59th meeting of the Workers Welfare Board was chaired by Vice Chairman and Mines Labour Welfare Commissioner Riaz Ahmed Chaudhry, here on Saturday.
Several welfare projects for miners were approved during the meeting.
An amended budget of Rs. 715 million for the fiscal year 2023-24 and a budget of Rs. 1,500 million, including Rs. 890 million for development, for the fiscal year 2024-25 were approved. A target of Rs. 2,300 million was set for collection of Excise Duty on minerals for fiscal year 2024-25.
The meeting approved an increase in the monthly assistance for disabled miners from Rs. 8,500 to Rs. 15,000. The annual grant for medicines provided to the Dera Ghazi Khan Cement Factory was increased from Rs. 60,000 to Rs. 200,000.
Additionally, approval was given for providing laptops and tablets to officers and staff for running the e-auction, financial management system, and school information system. The solar system installed at the Mines Labour Welfare Hospital Choa Saidan Shah will be e
xpanded to 50 kilowatts.
The meeting also approved the installation of a water filtration plant at the Mines Labour Welfare Girls Higher Secondary School Chak No. 119 Sargodha and the establishment of a staff room and day-care center at the Mines Labour Welfare Girls High School Dandot.
A dispensary and water filtration plant for miners in Qasim Bela, District Multan, at a cost of Rs. 40 million were approved. A water supply scheme for the miners of Iqbal Sons Coal Company Chakwal, costing Rs. 2.6 million, was also approved.
To cut costs, the transfer of 21 posts from other institutions to the Mines Labour Welfare Girls High School Katha Misral, District Khushab, was approved instead of creating new posts. The provision of annual uniforms for children of Mines Labour Welfare Schools was increased from one to two.
The minimum wage for coal miners was increased from Rs. 32,000 to Rs. 37,000, subject to the issuance of a notification by the Labour Department.
Furthermore, the schemes approved in the 39th me
eting of the Mines Labour Housing Board were ratified. The relocation of the Mines Labour Welfare Dispensary Margalla to the mining center Dhoke Gulab, District Rawalpindi, was approved.
The committee was also instructed to submit an immediate report on providing clean water for workers and computer and furniture facilities for children at the Khewra Salt Mines in District Jhelum.