Constitution (Amend) Bill approved: Bill seeks to enhance age limit of child labour to 16 years

The National Assembly Standing Committee on Law and Justice Monday approved "The Constitution (Amendment) Bill, 2016" seeking to enhance minimum age limit of child labour from 14 to 16 years. The committee which met with MNA Chaudhry Mahmood Bashir Virk in the chair passed the Constitution Amendment Bill 2016 moved by MNA Nafeesa Inayatullah Khattak seeking amendment in article 11 to enhance the minimum age limits for child labour from 14 to 16 years.
She said that Pakistan is the signatory to Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and international convention related to the issue and implementation of such SDGs and convention is binding on Pakistan. "Over 12.5 million children are involved in child labour in Pakistan therefore the age limit of child labour should be enhanced," she further said.
Karamat Hussain Niazi secretary Ministry of Law and Justice, informed the committee that Prime Minister has approved a summary submitted by Ministry of Law and Justice related to enhancement of age limit of child labour from 14 to 16 years. Following the statement of secretary, Ministry of Law and Justice unanimously approved the bill.
However, the committee did not approve the Constitution (Amendment) Bill, 2016 (insertion of new proviso in article 92 in clause (1)) moved by MNA Dr Nikhat Shakeel MNA seeking 17 percent of women quota in the cabinet among women members of parliament. Giving statement of objects and reason of the bill, she said no country will reach its full potential if its female citizens do not enjoy full equality. To recognize the importance of women in a society, 30 per cent constitutional quota of women in the National Assembly was added in 2002 to achieve gender balance in legislatures.
The meeting was attended by MNAs Chaudhry Muhammad Ashraf, Muhammad Moeen Wattoo, Muhammad Ayaz Soomro, Eng Ali Muhammad Khan Advocate, S A Iqbal Qadri and Movers of the Bills Dr Nikhat Shakeel Khan and Ms Nafeesa Inayatullah Khan Khattak.