Off the streets: Plan to rehabilitate street children

The first phase of the programme will start from the old city areas such as Saddar very soon, says Murtaza Wahab

KARACHI: Advisor to the Sindh Chief Minister on Information, Law and Anti-Corruption, Barrister Murtaza Wahab, has said that the Sindh government, in collaboration with the United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund (Unicef), is taking concrete steps to eliminate child beggary with the help of the Child Protection Authority.

The first phase of the programme will start from the old city areas such as Saddar very soon, he said. Wahab was addressing a delegation of Unicef in his office, according to a statement issued on Thursday. The adviser said that street children will be facilitated with the help of local administration in the first phase in Karachi, while the programme will be expanded to other districts of Sindh in the second phase.

“We are trying to eliminate begging and will also take action against those people who are involved in this crime,” he said, adding that with the help of Unicef, the provincial government will redress the economic problems and cater to the needs of the street children.

“We are planning to provide vocational training to street children in skills such as welding, carpentry, auto mechanic, electrician, plumbing, tailoring and other fields.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 16^th, 2018.