Media can play an important role to end child labour:Raja Ashfaq Sarwar

Lahore: Provincial Minister for Labour and Human Resources, Raja Ashfaq Sarwar has said that cooperation of media and civil society is very important to supplement the efforts of government for creating awareness about children rights and eliminating child labour.

He said this in his message on World Children Day. Raja Ashfaq Sarwer said that the future of Pakistan can be secured through ensuring quality education and good health to the future builders. He said that the elements involved in handing over weapons instead of pen in the hands of children instead of pen, are enemy of the society.

The Minister said that the Punjab government is implementing on various projects to eliminate child labour from the province with the cooperation of ILO. He said that child labour has been ended in district Sahiwal with the cooperation of stake holders, traders, industrialists and owners of brick-kilns and workshops. He said that Labour Department has allocated huge funds for scholarships, health and education of the children of factory workers and labourers.

The Minister said that free non-formal education is being imparted up to primary level to the children of Brick-kiln labourers. He said that there is a complete ban on labour by the children below the age of 14 years and stern action is taken against violators.

Raja Ashfaq Sarwer said that free medical treatment facilities are being provided to the children of labourers at health centers and Social Security Hospitals besides provision of free education, uniform, and pick & drop facilities to the children in the schools of Workers Welfare Board.