Protecting rights: Action to continue against child labour at brick kilns, says CM

Sharif praises ministers, chief secretary, IGP for action against kiln owners

LAHORE:

Action will continue to eliminate child labour from brick kilns, Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif said on Saturday.

He was addressing a meeting at Civil Secretariat through video link.

“Kilns where children are found working will be sealed and their owners sent to jail. The required resources will be provided for the provision of education to the children working at brick kilns. An educational package approved in this regard by the government will change the life of the children working at brick kilns,” Shahbaz said.

The meeting reviewed the measures taken for the elimination of child labour from brick kilns. The chief minister expressed satisfaction over the steps taken so far. He praised ministers Rana Sanaullah, Raja Ashfaq Sarwar, Chief Secretary Khizar Hayat Gondal and the inspector general of police. He said that no leniency should be shown in this regard.

“Child labour at brick kilns is tantamount to cruelty. Its complete elimination is the government’s mission. Stipends, free uniforms, stationery and textbooks will be provided to children working at brick kilns. Monthly stipend of Rs1,000 will be given to these children. In addition, Rs2,000 will also be given to their parents,” he added.

The Labour Department secretary briefed the meeting regarding the measures taken for the elimination of child labour. Sanaullah, Sarwar, Gondal, the IGP and secretaries of departments attended the meeting.

Marvi Memon meets CM

Benazir Income Support Programme Chairperson Marvi Memon met the chief minister on Saturday.

“Welfare of the masses and improving their living standards is the top priority of the government. Billions of rupees is being spent on programmes for the provision of relief to poor families. A number of programmes for the welfare of downtrodden people and welfare of the common man are continuing in the Punjab,” he said. The CM said that the Punjab Khidmat Card Programme had been launched for the provision of interest-free loans and free vocational training of special persons. “Assistance is being provided to special persons for making them active and useful members of the society,” he said.

He said that 0.2 million deserving special persons would benefit from the programme. “Rs3,600 is being given quarterly to the deserving special persons under this programme. Rs2 billion has been allocated for the first phase of the Punjab Khidat Card Programme,” he said. The chief minister said that it was a revolutionary programme for the provision of vocational training and financial assistance to special persons enabling them stand on their own feet.

Memon congratulated the chief minister for empowering women.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 24^th, 2016.