Sunder Industrial Estates: Minister issues directives to ensure compensation to affectees

Punjab Minister for Industries, Commerce and Investment (ICI) Sheikh Alauddin has directed the concerned departments to remove bottlenecks to ensure complete payment of compensation announced by the Chief Minister Punjab to the families affected by a building collapsed in Sunder Industrial Estates on November 4, 2015. The minister was presiding over the first meeting of the committee formed by the Chief Minister to examine and evaluate the actions regarding the incident.
Secretary Labour Suhail Shehzad while briefing the meeting said that an amount of Rs 120,000,000 was required to be paid by the factory owner as a compensation to 43 affectees. The compensation was fixed at Rs 2,000,000 for each deceased, Rs 1,000,000 for each injured with disability and Rs 500,000 for each injured. The legal heir of the factory owner after payment of Rs 20,000,000 in a writ petition pending in the Lahore High Court said that he had already paid the compensation amount under the law. The Punjab Industrial Estates Development and Management Company (PIEDMC) had paid Rs 7,200,000 from its own resources, he added.
The ICI Department's Additional Secretary informed the meeting that payment of compensation in the incident comes under the purview of Labour & HR Department therefore it should be directed to make such payments in co-ordination with the legal heirs of owner and PIEDMC's administration.
The Secretary, Labour & HR Department, also said that necessary amendments in the Workmen Compensation Act, 1923 including enhancement in compensation amount had already been framed and forwarded to the provincial cabinet for consideration. He said the summary of draft law titled "Punjab Occupational Safety and Health Law, 2016" would be submitted shortly to the Chief Minister for granting permission to forward it to the cabinet wing.
Secretary ICI &I Department Dr Mujtaba Piracha said that with a view to overcome different issues, the draft law of Industrial Regulatory Authority Punjab (IRAP) would be finalised shortly. The provincial cabinet has also approved the amendments in Boilers and Pressure Vessel Ordinance, 2002 and the same would be presented by the cabinet wing of Services & General Administration Department to the provincial assembly for approval.