The 25-year-old Orient Labs veterinary medicines factory came crashing down on Monday after an explosion allegedly caused either by a gas cylinder or boiler explosion.

Pakistani activists say the incident highlights poor safety measures and negligence on part of the factory owners and Pakistani authorities.

Farooq Tariq of the Pakistan Labour Party told Deutsche Welle from Lahore that most factory owners in Pakistan did not follow labor laws.

"According to our survey, there are more than 300 hundred factories functioning in the residential areas of Lahore, yet none of them obey labor laws and conventions. They do not allow labor inspection in their factories, which, in my opinion, is essential to safeguard the safety and rights of the workers. Sadly, the government protects the factory owners," claimed Tariq.

Tariq also said the government had banned trade unions in these factories. "We formed 13 trade unions in factories across Lahore. The government not only banned them but also filed cases against their leaders under anti-terrorism laws," said Tariq.

Many still trapped

The authorities have confirmed 16 deaths so far in the Lahore factory collapse. Most of the dead are women and children.

Workers and volunteers dug through the debris with bare hands through the night in a desperate effort to answer cries for help from women and children trapped beneath huge concrete slabs.

Tanvir Shehzad, Deutsche Welle correspondent in Lahore, said rescue officials were "trying to pull out four people from the basement of the building," said Shehzad. "Seven people are being treated at the Jinnah Hospital, none of them appear to be badly injured," he added.

Officials did not specify how many people were still trapped. Some sources claim there could still be 30 to 50 people buried under the collapsed building. Most of them are believed to be women and children packers hired by the factory owners.

Criminal negligence

Tanvir Shehzad said a criminal case had been registered against the owners and the manager of the factory. "The manager has been captured but the factory owners and their families have fled. The authorities are searching for them," reported Shehzad.

Shehzad also said a three-member investigation committee, set up on the orders of the Chief Minister of the Punjab, Mian Shahbaz Sharif, began its probe on Tuesday.

Activists and workers belonging to the Pakistan Labour Party held a protest at the site on Monday demanding an official explanation of the incident. "Who is accountable for the (deaths) of these innocent workers? We want an answer," they shouted.

"I hold the Punjab government responsible for the recent Lahore tragedy," said Labour Party's Farooq Tariq. He also said the government must fulfill its responsibilities under international labor laws and covenants, which, he believed, were often outright ignored in Pakistan.

Author: Shamil Shams (AFP, Reuters)
Editor: Sarah Berning