Two Tragic Factory Fires Highlight Safety Failures in Pakistan’s Garment Industry
At least 289 people have died in a huge fire at a clothing factory in Pakistan’s largest city, Karachi. (Photo: BBC screengrab)
Two factory blazes in Pakistan killed more than 300 workers last night, highlighting the country’s long-standing problems with workplace safety. The BBC’s Aleem Maqbool says Pakistan’s cheap clothing sold to Western markets comes at the cost of safety features like sprinklers and fire exits.
Two factory blazes in Pakistan killed more than 300 workers Tuesday night, highlighting the country’s long-standing problems with workplace safety.
In Karachi, at least 289 people died in a garment factory that had no emergency exits. Twenty-five more people died in a fire in a Lahore shoe factory.
The BBC’s Aleem Maqbool says Pakistan’s cheap clothing sold to Western markets comes at the cost of safety features like sprinklers and fire exits.
At The World, we believe strongly that human-centered journalism is at the heart of an informed public and a strong democracy. We see democracy and journalism as two sides of the same coin. If you care about one, it is imperative to care about the other.
Every day, our nonprofit newsroom seeks to inform and empower listeners and hold the powerful accountable. Neither would be possible without the support of listeners like you. If you believe in our work, will you give today? We need your help now more than ever!