Advisor to the Prime Minister on Interior Rehman Malik has appreciated the 67,000 dollar contribution to endowment fund, for the Child Protection and Welfare Bureau created by the UAE government. He said this while talking to Ali Muhammad Al-Shamsi, Ambassador of the UAE, who called on him here on Wednesday.
He said that this would help rehabilitate the child-jockeys, besides helping in eradicating the menace. Malik said "This endowment fund for the rehabilitation of 48 child jockeys, who were recovered from camel jockeys smugglers, is underway."
He reiterated the government commitment to eradicate child smuggling and said Pakistan is determined to block the smuggling of children used as camel-jockeys in the races in UAE and other Middle East countries.
Pakistan is taking every possible step to stop this heinous crime and will take strict action against any government functionary and any other elements involved in this activity, he said. He said that the immigration authorities and other law enforcement agencies have been directed that no leniency should be shown in dealing with this crime. A special directive has been issued to the DG, FIA in this regard, he said.
He appreciated the role of Khaleefa bin Al-Nahyaan, the ruler of Dubai, Crown Prince Muhammad Bin Al-Nahyaan and Foreign Minister Abdullah Bin Al-Nahyaan in controlling this activity in UAE and without their co-operation it was not possible, to deal with this menace.
Malik lauded the initiatives taken by the UAE government to rehabilitate the deprived children through rehabilitation centres where they are properly treated and made active members of the civil society and repatriated to their countries for reuniting them with their families.
Pakistan and UAE are brotherly countries and they have historic and traditional relations. The help and co-operation of people and the government of UAE during the earthquake in October 2005 is praiseworthy, he said. In present democratic dispensation in Pakistan the relations between these two Islamic countries will further strengthen.