International Day against Child Labour: ‘Educate working children for a better Pakistan’

158 rehabilitation centers established, objective of these centers is to save children from any kind of forced labour

ISLAMABAD:

Pakistan Baitul Mal (PBM) has established 158 rehabilitation centres for poor children across the country to provide them free education and shelter. This was said by PBM Managing Director (MD) Barrister Abid Waheed Sheikh on Thursday, ahead of the International Day against Child Labour, which is marked globally on June 12.

The objective of these centres is to save children from any kind of forced labour and ensure the socioeconomic rehabilitation of working children through formal and informal education, he said in an interview with APP.

He said these centres also provide special incentives to children from marginalised segments of society to curb the menace of child labour. “We are providing free books, uniforms, shoes, pocket money, medical facility and financial assistance as a wage compensation to the families to encourage education”, he added.

He said PBM is endeavouring to eliminate child labour entirely.

He explained that working children are being admitted to schools where they will get quality education under the prime minister’s recent initiatives. The education of these children will lead to a successful future for the country, he added.

The MD further said that the time has come to work collectively for the education of every child, adding that every child of Pakistan is our child, and protecting their rights should be a priority.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 12^th, 2015.