As Pakistan’s industries expand and global supply chains demand higher safety standards, workplace health and safety experts say the country urgently needs a centralized occupational safety authority modeled on the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA).
Pakistan’s primary federal law on workplace safety, the Factories Act of 1934, was written nearly a century ago. While Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Sindh passed updated occupational safety laws in 2013 and 2016, enforcement remains inconsistent and, in many cases, almost nonexistent. Without a unified national framework, worker safety often depends on the goodwill of individual employers.
“The absence of a central authority means there’s no consistent standard across industries or provinces,” said Faisal Majeed, a global Environmental, Health and Safety (EHS) strategist whose leadership career has spanned the Middle East, Africa, Turkey, Pakistan and the Americas.
Majeed, who is a Certified Safety Professional, a Certified Machinery Safety Engineering and most recently served as Head of Health and Safety Compliance for North America, Latin America and Global Nutrition at a major multinational company, overseeing programs that safeguarded a $6+ billion business, said “Pakistan’s enforcement mechanisms are weak, injury and incident data is incomplete or inaccessible, and inspection systems are under‑resourced.”
“Data is the foundation of prevention,” he said. “If you don’t know where injuries are happening, you can’t target resources effectively. OSHA in the U.S. maintains a comprehensive, public database of workplace incidents. Pakistan needs that level of transparency.”
The call for reform comes as the nature of workplace hazards is changing rapidly. Globally, industries are entering the era of Industry 4.0, where automation, artificial intelligence, robotics and connected devices are transforming production. While these technologies can reduce certain risks, they also introduce new ones, from complex machine interfaces to cybersecurity threats that could disrupt safety‑critical systems.
“Innovation changes the hazard profile,” Majeed said. “You can’t manage 21st‑century risks with a 1930s law. A modern safety administration would have the mandate and expertise to keep pace with technological change.”
Beyond protecting workers, experts say a modernized safety regime could open economic opportunities. The global EHS industry is worth $52 billion and growing rapidly, driven by stricter regulations, corporate sustainability commitments and digital compliance tools.
“Global brands increasingly demand proof of safe and ethical production from their suppliers,” Majeed said. “If Pakistan can demonstrate robust safety governance, it will not only protect its workforce but also enhance its export competitiveness.”
Creating such an authority would require political will, legislative action and sustained funding. It would also require overcoming resistance from stakeholders who see safety as a cost rather than a value driver.
“Safety is not a cost center; it’s a value driver,” Majeed said. “In my experience, companies that lead in safety also lead in productivity and quality.”
Proponents suggest that a Pakistan OSHA could harmonize provincial laws, set national standards, coordinate inspections and training, and serve as a central repository for injury and illness data. It could also ensure that safety regulations keep pace with technological change and global best practices.
“The world is moving fast,” Majeed said. “If Pakistan doesn’t modernize its safety governance now, it risks being left behind, not just in technology, but in the most basic measure of progress: the well‑being of its people.”
