Shahbaz Sharif visits a brick kiln at village Jiya Bagga

Lahore: Punjab Chief Minister Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif went to village Jiya Bagga, 33 kilometers from Lahore, without any prior intimation and landed his helicopter near a brick kiln. The purpose of the surprise visit of Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif was to review implementation of the decisions regarding elimination of child labour from brick kilns. He reviewed the situation at three different brick kilns of the village for several hours and also talked to the labourers.

Talking to the Chief Minister, the brick kiln workers said that the decision of Muslim League-N government to rid the children of labour at brick kilns and to give them a monthly scholarship of one thousand rupees and a stipend of two thousand rupees to their parents is a poor-friendly step of the Muslim League-N government. They said that it will also change the destiny of their families and save them from the oppressive system.

The Chief Minister expressed strong indignation at seeing a 13-year-old boy Muhammad Danish working at a brick kiln and reprimanded the owner. He said that Muhammad Danish should be studying in Daanish School instead of working at a brick kiln. He expressed the hope that use of force will not be needed and the brick kiln owners will help in the education of children as they are future of the nation. He said that no one will be allowed to mortgage these children in return for advance payment.

Shahbaz Sharif announced complete financial support to the children working at brick kilns and said that he will not rest content until every child working at brick kilns is enrolled in school. He said that education of these children is a national cause and Punjab government has allocated crores of rupees for this purpose. He said that all out funds will be provided for the education of these children. He said besides giving a monthly scholarship of one thousand rupees to every child going to school, the government will also bear his educational expenses.

He said that free uniform, textbooks and stationery will also be provided to these children while transport facility will be extended to the children of far flung areas. He said that a sum of two thousand rupees will be given to the parents of the children going to school. Brick kiln workers and the people of the village expressed pleasant surprise at seeing the Chief Minister among them and raised the slogans of ‘Shehbaz Sharif Zindabad’.

Punjab Chief Minister Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif on his return from Kasur suddenly landed his helicopter in the field near Jia Baga, adjacent village to Lahore and reviewed the government steps being taken for eliminating child labour by conducting raids at brick kilns without information. Upon seeing the Chief Minister, a large number of villagers and kiln labourers gathered and raised slogans of Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif Zindabad.

On this occasion, an 80-year-old man Muhammad Amin while talking to the Chief Minister said that he has spent his life and has been listening to the slogans of political leaders regarding ridding the children of labour at kilns for the last 50 years but Shahbaz Sharif is the first political personality who has taken practical steps for eliminating child labour from brick kilns and won their hearts.

He said that Shahbaz Sharif has saved our coming generations from this cruel system. The old man said that this good step of Shahbaz Sharif’s government will be remembered forever and now pen and book will be in the hands of our children instead of brick.

Earlier; Punjab Chief Minister Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif today went to the residence of Muslim League-N Member Provincial Assembly Malik Ahmed Khan in Kasur and expressed deep sense of sorrow and grief over the sad demise of his father and former Deputy Chairman Senate Malik Muhammad Ali. He also offered Fateha for the departed soul.

The Chief Minister said that late Malik Muhammad Ali was a seasoned politician and his political services will be remembered for a long time. Late Malik Muhammad Ali was brother-in-law of Malik Rasheed Ahmed Khan, MNA and uncle of Malik Saeed Ahmed Khan, MPA.