Refugee Labor in Natural Resource Extraction: The Case of Harnai’s Coal Mining Sector on Balochistan

Hidayatullah Khan; Muhammad Atif

Authors

Hidayatullah Khan BUITEMS Author https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8043-7568
Muhammad Atif Author

Keywords:

Afghan refugee labor, Repatriation Impact, Coal Mining

Abstract

This study examines the critical yet overlooked role of Afghan refugee labor in the coal mining sector of Harnai, Balochistan. Based on qualitative field research from 2025, it finds that refugees constitute over 60% of the workforce, providing indispensable skills that have historically boosted production. However, their undocumented status has led to systemic exploitation. The recent policy of forced repatriation has triggered a severe socioeconomic collapse, drastically reduced coal output and destabilizing local livelihoods. The research reveals a governance failure that criminalizes this essential labor force. It concludes by advocating for pragmatic formalization, such as regulated work permits, to secure the industry's future and transform a cycle of precarity into a sustainable, mutually beneficial system

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