ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court on Monday asked the additional attorney general amicus curae and the Barrick Gold counsels to conclude their submission by Thursday.
The court directed them to finalize their arguments as they also have to write the judgment, before the deadline, which is December 15, 2022.
The CJP said, “Our desire will be to finish the case well before the time. We don’t want to disturb the arrangement,” he added.
He inquired from Barrick Gold counsel can the deadline be delayed little further. Makhdoom Ali Khan, who represented Barrick Gold, informed that they have tried, but Antafogasta, which will quit the project after receiving $900 million, wanted the settlement by December 15.
A five-judge bench, headed by Chief Justice Umar Ata Bandial and comprising Justice Ijaz ul Ahsan, Justice Muneeb Akhtar, Justice Yahya Afridi and Justice Jamal Khan Mandokhail heard the presidential reference on the Reko Diq project and expressed concern about the safety and welfare will be working in the Reko Diq project.
Justice Bandial expressing concern about the safety and welfare of people, who will be employed for Reko Diq project, questioned what do the workmen will get? He asked the Barrick Gold’s counsel do you have in mind what will be minimum wage of the workers for the gold mines project?
The CJP further said that the salary structure of the workers in the international organisations and the petroleum companies is much better.
Makhdoom said right now can’t tell about minimum wage, but it would be higher than the many companies paying in Pakistan. He informed that working condition of the labourers will also be better than the people working in other projects.
He said United National Human Right protocols will be fully observed and the ILO protections will be complied as it also signatory of ILO convention. It is the Canadian organization and providing these protections to its workers in Canada.
Justice Afridi asked the counsel to provide the comparative minimum wages that your client providing to the worker in other projects. Amanullah Kanrani, representative Balochistan Bar Council, through video-link, contended that people working in the coal-mines in Balochistan are dying, as no safety measures and security system placed for them.
Justice Ijaz said those companies are Pakistanis, adding it was responsibility of the government to protect them. He said there are concerns all over the world about the exploitation of the local labourers. Makhdoom said there will be local mechanism for the addressing the complaints.
“We will not fall below the local standard.” The State owned enterprises (SOEs) are required that no human rights violation is committed. Barrick Gold counsel also informed that all environmental concerns of the Court will be addressed and environment high standards will be followed.
He said that the underground water, which will be used for the project is not suitable for drinking purpose. It will be used after treatment, adding the treated water will also be supplied to the locals. Desalination plant will be installed for cleaning water will be available dewatering the slurry. The water will be treated before putting in the sea as they don’t want to disturb the ecological life.
Justice Ijaz asked why Makhdoom why the company uses sea water for the project. He replied they have no plan to bring water from sea as 680 km pipeline required to be laid for this purpose, adding the company, however, will lay pipeline to transport slurry to the sea-port.
The chief justice said that he read a study according to that the aquifer is tilting towards Afghanistan and Iran, adding that Iran has used this water after treatment for agriculture. He further said that Balochistan land is fertile, and Makhdoom you (Barrick) should encourage to also use it for drip irrigation. Later, the case is adjourned until today.
