ISLAMABAD:
Prime Minister Imran Khan has said that the government is fully cognisant to its responsibilities towards children.
“Children are the most precious resource of any nation and the sole guarantee for its future,” the premier said on Friday marking the Universal Children’s Day.
He said Pakistan joins the world community today in celebrating the Universal Children’s Day 2020, which is an occasion to reaffirm our commitment to the fundamental principles laid down in the Constitution of Pakistan, United Nations Declaration of Human Rights and United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child.
He further underscored that his government was determinedly striving to ensure that child’s rights to inclusive development, education, healthcare, participation, dignity and security, as envisaged in the United Nations Convention on the Rights are implemented.
“The present government has initiated various programmes to ensure protection of children’s rights in the country,” he stated elaborating that a National Commission on the Rights of Children has been set up which monitors child rights situation in the country and under which two children, a girl and a boy, have been given representation.
The Zainab Alert, Response and Recovery Act, 2020 has been enacted for the protection of missing and abducted children. The Juvenile Justice System Act, 2018 and ICT Child Protection Act, 2018 have been enacted to provide care and protection to children.
The premier further said that the manifesto of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) calls for enhanced focus on childhood nutrition, child-friendly learning environment, educating our children, promoting early screening and interaction for children with disabilities.
He said that the government has also initiated programmes like healthcare for all, transforming education and unleashing the potential of the youth. Moreover, the expansion of social safety net, providing clean drinking water and tackling climate change are also among the priority areas.
“Besides, a caring system for people with special needs is also being created. The rule of law and economic justice are being ensured by undertaking various measures. The government of Pakistan is constantly monitoring the Covid-19 situation in the country and accordingly taking all possible appropriate measures in collaboration with provincial governments and development partners to mitigate its adverse effects on people,” the prime minister maintained.
The government is building a welfare state where transparency is being guaranteed to all the citizens, he said adding that the creation of a violence free society and ending child abuse is one of the present government’s priority areas.
“I reaffirm my pledge for protection of child rights in the country enabling them to become productive members and citizens of the society and the state respectively.”
“I am confident that with government organisations, civil society bodies, philanthropist establishments, human rights groups, the corporate sector and international development partners all coming together on one platform, no difficulty will be insurmountable, and very soon our children will also enjoy the same care, nurturing, protection and opportunities that are available to children in the more advanced nations of the world,” PM Imran concluded.
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I wish Imran Khan all the best in running Pakistan to being a successful country. Pakistan needs individuals who have the people's best interests at heart and not their own like the previous administrations.