The International Center for Refugee and Migration Studies (ICRMS), in collaboration with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and the Balochistan University of Information Technology, Engineering and Management Sciences (BUITEMS), organized the first policy dialogue of the year 2025 titled “Acknowledging the Unseen Contribution of Refugee Labour in the Mining Sector of Balochistan” on 15th October 2025 at BUITEMS, Quetta.
The objective of the dialogue was to highlight the invaluable yet often overlooked contribution of refugee labour, particularly, Afghan workers in Balochistan’s mining industry. The event aimed to foster discussion among policymakers, academics, and humanitarian actors on strategies for reintegrating refugee labour within formal economic frameworks while safeguarding their rights and dignity.
The event was graced by the presence of several distinguished representatives from a range of public and private sector institutions, each contributing meaningfully to the discussions. The session was convened by Prof. Dr. Zahid Rauf, Director, ICRMS-BUITEMS, and chaired by Prof. Dr. Khalid Hafeez, Vice Chancellor, BUITEMS. Mr. Manzoor Ahmed, Additional Secretary, Mines and Minerals Department, Balochistan; Mr. Tesfaye Bekele, Head of UNHCR Sub-Office, Quetta; Ms. Efratan Gizaw, Program Officer, UNHCR; Ms. Mahwish, Assistant Reporting Officer, UNHCR; Mr. Fateh Shah Arif, Secretary General, All Pakistan Mine Owners Association (APMOA); Mr. Sardar Murtaza Khan Jogezai, Member, APMOA; Mr. Ali Raza, Coordinator, National Commission for Human Rights, Balochistan; Ms. Maha Urooj and Ms. Shakila Kakar, Assistant Directors, Bureau of Statistics, Planning & Development Department, Balochistan; Mr. Abdul Hayee, Advocate and Member, National Commission on the Rights of the Child; Prof. Dr. Kamran Sami, Director, ORIC, BUITEMS; Prof. Dr. Aurangzeb Alamgeer, Dean, Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities, BUITEMS; Prof. Dr. Zafar Baloch, Associate Dean, Faculty of Engineering and Architecture, BUITEMS; Dr. Wahid Ali, Chairperson, Mining Engineering Department, BUITEMS; and Mr. Iftikhar Ahmed, Lecturer, Mass Communications, BUITEMS, were among the other distinguished participants. Their active participation and thoughtful insights greatly enriched the dialogue, providing valuable institutional and policy perspectives that enhanced the overall impact of the event.
The policy dialogue was moderated by Dr. Hafeez Rehman, Assistant Professor of Department of Mining Engineering at BUITEMS, who facilitated an engaging and inclusive discussion. The event began with the recitation of the Holy Quran followed by a round introduction of the guests. Prof. Dr. Zahid Rauf, Director ICRMS-BUITEMS, delivered the opening remarks. He emphasized the significance of the economic and social contributions of refugee labourers in the mining sector and called for inclusive and evidence-based policy interventions. Prof. Dr. Zahid Rauf extended a warm welcome to representatives from government departments, BUITEMS faculty members, and the ICRMS team, appreciating their participation and support in making the dialogue possible.
Following the opening remarks, a comprehensive research-based presentation titled “Refugee Labor in Natural Resource Extraction: The Case of Harnai’s Coal Mining Sector in Balochistan” was delivered by Dr. Hidayat Ullah, Assistant Professor of International Relations at BUITEMS. Dr. Hidayat Ullah shared current statistics of Pakistan’s mining sector, focusing on the metallic and non-metallic minerals of Balochistan, particularly coal mining in District Harnai. The objective of this case study was to examine the contribution of refugees to the local economy and the creation of livelihood opportunities for both the refugees themselves and the host communities, which is lacking in the existing literature. He highlighted the dynamics, challenges, and economic impact of the coal mining sector and evaluated the pre-, during-, and post-refugee labor presence on coal production. The research outcomes suggested that the contribution of Afghan refugee labour was significant, showing a positive impact of their presence on the number of functional haulages, labor composition, and overall coal production. He also proposed policy recommendations based on the research findings as his concluding remark.
The dialogue was divided into three thematic sessions:
Theme 1: Role of Afghan Labour in the Mining Sector
Participants acknowledged the substantial role of Afghan refugees in sustaining mining activities across Balochistan. They noted that despite their contribution, refugee workers remain largely unrecognized within formal labour structures due to their legal status.
Theme 2: Labour Rights and Working Conditions
Speakers discussed the pressing need for improved safety standards, fair wages, and legal protection for both refugee and local workers. It was stressed that collaboration between the government, mine owners, private sector, and humanitarian organizations is essential for creating a safer and fairer work environment.
Theme 3: Social and Economic Impact of Refugee Repatriation
The third session examined the implications of potential refugee repatriation on Balochistan’s mining economy and host communities. Concerns were raised that sudden repatriation without a transition plan could disrupt local productivity and livelihoods.
Policy Recommendations
The dialogue concluded with a recapitulation of the key recommendations presented by Mr. Iftekhar, the rapporteur of the session. He emphasized the formal recognition of refugee labour contributions in national policies, the enhancement of occupational health and safety standards in mining, the establishment of skill development and certification programs for both refugee and local workers, stronger coordination among government bodies, academia, the mining sector, and humanitarian actors, as well as the continuation of research on the socio-economic role of refugee labour in Balochistan.
Following the recommendation, the Mr. Tesfaye Bekele, HoSO, UNHCR-Quetta, emphasized the importance of this dialogue in highlighting the unseen contributions of Afghan refugees, who risk their lives working under unsafe and hazardous conditions in coal mining sector. He reaffirmed UNHCR’s commitment to supporting data-driven and inclusive policy development and appreciating the efforts of ICRMS, and BUITEMS in bringing together diverse stakeholders for a meaningful and timely policy dialogue. The event concluded with a group photo session followed by a networking lunch, allowing participants to exchange ideas and explore opportunities for future collaboration.
Reported by Muhammad Asif
Reporting Associate
