Rights situation in districts assessed

Toll-free number for lodging rights abuse complaints ordered

PESHAWAR:

The first meeting of Provincial Task Force Committee on Protection of Human Rights was held under its chairman and Provincial Minister for Labour and Culture Shaukat Yousafzai in Peshawar.

The meeting discussed in detail the establishment of the committee, its aims, research topics, protection of human rights and future line of action.

Addressing the meeting Shaukat Yousafzai said the purpose of the committee was to improve the protection of human rights in line with the modern-era needs and provide people their due rights.

He ordered a toll free number and complaint boxes at district level so that the people could convey their complaints easily to the government.

He called for an awareness campaign and dissemination of information to people in this regard so that they could be able to use them correctly.

He also ordered establishment of committees for protection of human rights in all districts. These committees should hold their meetings monthly, he directed.

He also instructed submitting of performance report of each district to the department so that progress of each district could be assessed and in light of this report, more work could be done for improving human rights situation in these districts.

He said we have to bring clear improvement in monitoring of human rights within 15 days in the province through the newly established committee.

Yousafzai directed the labour department to do complete monitoring of hotels charging extra money from tourists visiting scenic spots, giving remuneration less than Rs26,000 to its workers and other human rights violations and give them punishment according to law so that the people could feel that the government was the protector of their rights.

Addressing the meeting Provincial Minister Fazal Shakoor said that the decisions made by the provincial government for protection of human rights should be promulgated throughout the province.

He asked ensuring payment of Rs26,000 in wages to factory workers as well as strict implementation of working hours.

He said if any institute whether it is government, semi-government or private involved in the violation of this law, strict action should be initiated against them.

Provincial Law Minister Fazal Shakoor Khan, Secretary Law Masood Ahmad, Secretary Labour Roohullah, Additional Secretary Home Dept Muhammad Javed, Additional Secretary Law Tabassum, Director Labour Irfan Khan, Deputy Secretary Law Ihsanullah, Deputy Secretary Information Aftab Afridi and other high-ranking officers attended the meeting.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 28^th, 2022.