CM concerned over 1.3m child labourers in Sindh

Welcomes UNICEF-backed survey showing 50% decline since 1996

KARACHI:

Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah has expressed serious concern that around 1.3 million children in Sindh are still engaged in forced labour, despite a significant 50 per cent reduction in child labour across the province between 1996 and 2024.

The findings were revealed in the Sindh Child Labour Survey 2023-24, conducted by the provincial Labour Department in collaboration with UNICEF.

While welcoming the survey's encouraging progress, the chief minister said the decline reflected the Sindh government's consistent efforts to combat child labour.

These include the effective enforcement of the Child Employment (Prohibition and Regulation) Act, 2017, establishment and expansion of non-formal education and skill development centres - particularly in rural areas - and targeted inspections and raids by the Labour Department to curb illegal employment of minors.

He added that partnerships with vocational training institutes have created alternative education opportunities for out-of-school children, while public awareness campaigns, conducted with UNICEF's support, have helped communities understand the dangers and illegality of child labour.

Murad Ali Shah emphasized that the fight against child labour must continue through greater access to education, especially technical education, and poverty reduction. He said the provincial government had introduced several social protection initiatives to support vulnerable families.

Highlighting the impact of recent floods, the CM noted that widespread displacement and poverty in rural areas had exacerbated the problem. He directed all relevant departments to intensify efforts, particularly in agricultural and industrial sectors where most affected children work, and called for expansion of informal education and training centres to rehabilitate freed child workers.

"Children are our future," he said. "Their education, skills, and protection from forced labour are essential for a prosperous Sindh."

International Artists Day

In a separate message marking International Artists Day, Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah paid tribute to artists, calling them "the voice of a society's hidden emotions."

He said artists mirror social realities and express a nation's collective spirit through their creativity. "Without artists, the concepts of history and culture remain incomplete," he remarked.

The CM reaffirmed Sindh government's commitment to supporting artists through welfare and development initiatives. He highlighted the establishment of Aror University of Art, Architecture, Design and Heritage to provide young artists a platform to preserve Sindh's cultural legacy.

Murad Ali Shah also announced that, with the support of the Sindh government, the Arts Council of Pakistan Karachi will host the World Cultural Festival, featuring artists from 141 countries. "It will be one of the largest global gatherings of creative minds - a true celebration of art, culture, and the human spirit," he said.