Two labourers were killed by armed assailants in the Duki Tribal Coal Mines area of Loralai in Balochistan, 24NewsHD TV channel reported on Monday.
According to the police report, there was an exchange of gunfire between the armed assailants and private security personnel stationed at the mine site.
The attackers fled after the return fire, the police said adding that among the deceased was a coal mine engine driver.
The police said the victims have been identified as Karimullah Daulat Zai and Naeem son of Jalat Khan from the Sulaiman Khel tribe. The bodies have been transported to Duki Civil Hospital.
Duki is rich with high-quality coal with the highest rate of extraction in Pakistan. More than 80% of the local population are directly involved in the coal business. Almost all Pushtun tribes in Duki including Nasar, Tareen and Luni participate. The Nasar tribe has a large share, and is considered to be the master miners and businessmen.
In the Duki district coal is mainly under the control of the mine owners, the Petti Tekadars, and the coal agents. The mine owners are either land owners or hold extraction rights. Ownership is held by only a few families, mainly the sardars of different tribes. Petti Tekkadars do not own mines, rather they license them from the owners. Many Petti Tekaddars work in Dukki Tehsil. Coal agents help transport coal to other cities by becoming middlemen.
At least 3,000 metric tons of coal are transported to Punjab province. The width of the coal seams vary from 6 inches to 9 feet. On average 1000 coal mines operate with turnover of Rs.50 million daily.
Reporter: Rahmat Ullah