Treaty Implementation Cell discusses course of action.
PHOTO: FILE
The meeting also developed a mechanism to take benefit of the best practices being followed by the provinces to introduce new legislation and implement administrative steps with regard to human, women, child and labour rights, anti-corruption drives, narcotics and environmental protection.
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The decision was taken at the 12th meeting of the Treaty Implementation Cell (TIC) in the Ministry of Commerce, which was chaired by its Convenor and Attorney General of Pakistan Ashtar Ausaf Ali. The meeting was attended by senior officials of federal and all relevant provincial departments including Azad Jammu and Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan and a representative from the International Labour Organization (ILO) and Pakistan Workers Federation (PWF).
In order to vigorously implement national and international obligations, the Prime Minister had recently reconstituted the TIC with federal and provincial secretaries and representatives from UN Women, ILO, PWF and National Human Rights Commission of Pakistan Chairman as its members.
The meeting decided to simplify labour laws and merge six dozen laws into five major category laws.
Under the road map, all provinces will make legislation and take administrative steps to minimise the gender wage gap.
The gathering declared that all the heads of provincial Higher Education Commissions (HEC) would be recommended to introduce degrees and diplomas on labour-related matters.
Addressing the meeting, Convenor Ashtar Ausaf Ali directed the ministries and provincial departments to showcase Pakistan’s achievements and progress on human, women, child and labour rights, as well as environmental protection, anti-narcotics, and anti-corruption measures.
“Pakistan has acted proficiently and responsibly and has gone beyond not because of international treaties and conventions but by fulfilling obligations under the Constitution of Pakistan,” he added.
Earlier representatives from Ministry of Human Rights, Overseas Pakistanis and Human Resource Development, Climate Change, National Accountability Bureau and Narcotics Control made detailed presentations.
A source in the Ministry of Commerce told The Express Tribune that the EU has sought a detailed report about Pakistan’s progress on the implementation of the 27 UN Conventions. The GSP Plus status given to Pakistan by EU some two years back is conditioned on the implementation of these conventions.
The official said that the commerce ministry has asked all the provincial governments and concerned federal departments to send detailed progress reports from the respective areas.
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The EU secretariat will review the progress and will decide its future line of action on further extension of the special GSP Plus status.
Published in The Express Tribune, September 3rd, 2016.
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