Strategy devised: Campaign to eliminate child labour on the cards

Complaint cells for overseas Pakistanis have been set up in three districts

BAHAWALPUR: Bahawalpur Division Commissioner Saqib Zafar has said an effective campaign will be launched to eliminate child labour at brick kilns. He directed the DCOs to ensure enrolment of the children in schools.

The commissioner added, for the purpose, concrete steps should be taken while all available resources must be mobilised.

He issued these directions while presiding over a meeting at Conference Room on Wednesday that was held to review the progress to eliminate forced child labour at brick kilns at his conference room, here, today.

The meeting was attended by Bahawalpur DCO Dr Ehtasham Anwar Mahar, Bahawalnagar DCO Azhar Hayat, Rahim Yar Khan DCO Jameel Ahmad, Additional Commissioner Revenue Saqib Ali Ateel, Additional Commissioner Coordination Syed Waseem Hassan, Additional District Collector Nausheen Malik, administrative officers and other officials.

The officials told the commissioner that 892 raids were conducted at different brick kilns, 123 FIRs were lodged, while five were sealed. In addition, 186 suspects were arrested, 198 children were recovered while fine of Rs1.2 million was also imposed upon the violators.

Meanwhile, the commissioner said special complaint cells have been established in three districts to redress the problems and grievances of overseas Pakistanis. He added District Coordination Officers have been tasked to supervise these complaint centres.

“Effective and result oriented mechanism has been devised to resolve various issues faced by overseas Pakistanis and  a comprehensive report would be submitted to Punjab Committee of Overseas Pakistanis on regular basis,” Saqib maintained.

On the occasion, the meeting was told that 45 complaints by overseas Pakistanis were received while 27 were resolved. The rest of the applications were under process at Bahawalpur.

Earlier, the federal ombudsman office received over 80,000 complaints from overseas Pakistanis during the past seven months. According to data compiled by Wafaqi Mohtasib, 43,000 complaints were registered online by overseas Pakistanis residing in Germany, Malaysia, New York and Saudi Arabia against PIA, issuance of passport by NADRA and delayed salaries.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 29^th, 2016.