ISLAMABAD
Federal Minister for Petroleum & Natural Resources, Shahid Khaqan Abbasi has said that 50 per cent of oil tankers lack minimum safety measures and quality standards which are posing serious hazards and threats to the precious lives of civilians.
The minister said this while addressing the Professional Development Conference held here at a hotel, which arranged by the Pakistan Chapter of the American Society of Safety Engineers.
At the back drop of ongoing oil tankers strike, he further emphasised the need for educating the general masses about the safety measures in the work place and the development projects, so that the precious lives of skilled labourers may be saved from a fatal accident.
Shahid further stated that among our masses, safety tools are taken for granted as fashion or a piece of decoration. It is high-time we understand that safety is not an option but a very important aspect, in a professional capacity and in order to achieve production.
He added that it is very difficult to avoid physical hazards until ‘we’ practice safety measures. He further said that in the Ahmed Pur Sharqia accident, the whole system failed to protect lives and there was a need to learn that the accidents do not cause death, rather the post-accident events bring the real calamity.
The minister further stated that in 2009 OGRA issued notification for the standard safety measures for the oil/fuel tankers and according to those standards most of the oil/fuel tankers in Pakistan are going against those safety measures.
He said that media, educational institutions, and educational workshops, need to disseminate information with regards to safety measures.
