State Minister for Overseas Pakistanis, Senator Tariq Azeem has said that 30,000 children are being smuggled annually into UAE to serve as camel jockeys, out of which 60 to 70 percent are from Pakistan.
He was speaking here at the inauguration ceremony of 'Entrepreneurs Day' held under the aegis of Institute of Management Sciences, Hamdard University.
Tariq Azeem said that the government has taken up the issue with Sheikh Saif Aleem, UAE Interior Minister who has assured to take concrete measures to check the menace. The minister said that poverty was the root cause of the menace as parents send their children to UAE and other Gulf countries for manual work due to financial problems but unfortunately children get trapped by human traffickers. He said that Unicef has done tremendous job in providing relief to children released from the custody of human traffickers.
Earlier, Tariq Azeem visited the stalls of handicrafts, garments, computers, and jewellery made by the students of management sciences and appreciated the exhibits.
He said that Entrepreneur Day would help promotion of entrepreneurship in business and corporate culture of the country. Azeem said that entrepreneurship is essential to economic development, without which no society is vibrant and economically viable. A press release of the university adds "Entrepreneurs Day" highlights the importance of entrepreneur and the role they can play in changing economic market of Pakistan.
Minister of state addressing the gathering emphasised the importance of entrepreneurship urging the students to get command over it to meet new challenges. Entrepreneur activity is a part and parcel of every university in America. Hamdard University is a pioneer of such an activity in Pakistan.
Chief Executive Officer Hamdard University Khawaja Ejaz Sarwar said the basic objective of the day was to sensitise the youth of Pakistan regarding the importance of initiating managing and controlling new ventures. He said students have a chance to apply their theoretical knowledge to practical realities. He added that the university would provide ample support to such ventures.