Pakistan: Possible Asbestos Ban?

Fears of cancer and other dangerous diseases have prompted the Pakistan national legislature to consider serious asbestos regulation.

Late in December, the Pakistan National Assembly’s Standing Committee on Human Resource Development recommended a complete freeze on the import and use of asbestos in 22 of its national industries. The committee’s intent is to “safeguard the health of workers,” says an article in the Daily Times of Pakistan.

The Pakistan federal human resource secretary told the committee that asbestos is used widely in the country. For instance, the nation relies on asbestos in the manufacture of gaskets, roof coating, frictions materials, fabrics, yarn, thread, gloves, clothing, rubber, plastic sheets and panels, chemical filters, furnace and hot pipe coverings, and more.

Because of this, in Pakistan there is a major threat cancer will spread among industrial workers. The secretary claimed that some 55 countries have already barred the import of asbestos. Among the countries banning asbestos are Australia, Germany, and the United Kingdom, notes the article.

After its asbestos vote, the human resources development committee also submitted a “calling attention notice” to the National Assembly.

Inhalation of asbestos, a fibrous mineral, has been definitively linked to serious and often fatal diseases, including asbestos lung cancer, asbestosis, and mesothelioma. Mesothelioma is a rare but serious cancer caused by exposure to asbestos. Despite international recognition that asbestos is highly dangerous, neither the United States nor Canada has completely banned it.

If you or a loved one has developed mesothelioma as a result of exposure to asbestos, you may be eligible for a mesothelioma lawsuit. Call us today for a free legal consultation. Mesothelioma attorneys can help you investigate your exposure to asbestos, and get you the fair compensation you deserve.

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