Commenting in the wake of the recent most tragic fire incident in a factory at Baldia Town Karachi and the resultant media hype about the management of the factories, Rana Muahmmad Mushtaq Khan, Chairman, Value Added Textile Associations clarified that all factories come under strict and stringent control of multifarious government departments all of which strictly monitor the safety and security measures.
He enumerated that several government departments such as Civil Defence which ensures labour training and issues Labour Training Certificate for the employees as well as Terminal Certificate. Similarly, the Labour Department carries on certified surgeon - periodic examination of workers and Labour Department's Technical Inspection Engineer carries on the health and safety measures. In addition to this there is one Department of Electrical Inspector which carries Electric Inspection of Employers' Factories.
Then there is SESSI (Social Security) which is incharge of Education Cess and Social Security of the Labourer. EOBI is another major department which carries on collection of funds related to EOBI. The Boiler Inspector comes next which carries on inspection boilers in the factory. In addition, all factories regularly pay fire and conservancy charges to the government.
He said that previously all these departments carried out checks and balances with proper inspection and audit of all the factories 2-3 times in a year but on request made the Chief Minister of Sindh and as ordered by him currently inspection and audit is being carried out once a year.-PR