Dr. Yasmin Raashid advisor to PTI Chairman has expressed deep sorrow and grief over the loss of precious human lives when a factory located in the Sundar Industrial Estate, Lahore collapsed on Wednesday night, leaving at least 18 dead and 55 injured. More than 100 people are feared trapped under the rubble of the collapsed factory she added. She said still people are screaming for help under the collapsed structure. The rescue operation was moving slowly as excavators were having trouble reaching the end of the narrow lane where the ill-fated factory was located she added. She said it is a very tragic incident under the nose of Punjab government. What were the provincial departments doing when the building suffered structural damage in the October 26th earthquake and why no body stopped the owner to build extension on fourth floor she questioned? She expressed her condolences for the families of the deceased. She said she hopes the Punjab government will take this incidence seriously and make sure strict implementation of labor laws.
PTI Information Secretary Andleeb Abbas said she is grieved over the loss of lives due to the sad incidence; she expressed her heartfelt sympathies and condolences with the families of the deceased and prayed for the speedy recovery of the injured. Sundar Industrial Estate is managed and owned by Punjab government she added. She said if the Punjab government cannot implement building codes and labour laws in its own managed industrial estate then how can we expect from Punjab government that it will implement labour laws in rest of the province. It was a tragic prey for the poor labourers who lost their lives; these poor labourers will never be able to get justice from this corrupt system she said. Authorities that are supposed to check illegal building, enforcing building codes, and vacating and demolishing dangerous buildings, be charged with criminal negligence and prosecuted to teach them a lesson she added. The sad incidence has also exposed preparedness of Punjab government to deal with emergency situation she added. She said in the end it was Army that had to come forward for the rescue operations. Sharif Brothers in their 35 years rule could not build the institutions as their prime focus was on showy projects she added.