Islamabad: The Ministry of Human Rights held its fifth meeting of the Inter-Ministerial and Inter-Provincial Steering Committee on the National Action Plan on Business and Human Rights, chaired by Federal Minister for Human Rights, Senator Azam Nazeer Tarar. The meeting focused on the development of a Human Rights Due Diligence Regulatory Framework and coordination with the Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan to enhance labor rights and female representation in the corporate sector.

Representatives from all provinces, relevant federal ministries, and other stakeholders attended the meeting. They discussed progress on key action points, including the distribution of a compliance checklist to chambers of commerce for feedback and the creation of a national training program to increase awareness of the National Action Plan on Business and Human Rights.

The Ministry of Human Rights has participated in workshops with the Office of the Prime Minister on Human Rights Development to support the ratification of international occupational health and safety conventions. Provincial Steering Committees and District Vigilance Committees have been established to improve coordination on the plan’s implementation.

Federal Minister Tarar highlighted the poor conditions faced by mine workers, noting recent fatal incidents as evidence of significant safety lapses. He stressed the need for a coordinated national response to bridge the gap between policy and implementation, citing inadequate safety measures and training for mine workers.

The Minister called for alignment with international best practices, particularly the International Labour Organization’s Convention No. 176 on Safety and Health in Mines. He urged provincial governments to develop a standardized Labour Management Information System to enhance coordination in labor governance.

The meeting concluded with a commitment to uphold human rights in the business sector and endorsed the National Action Plan Implementation Plan for 2025-26, emphasizing financial transparency and improved access to justice.