Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif has said that PML-N government is determined to eliminate child labour from Punjab. He said that under the leadership of Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif, practical steps have been taken for eliminating child labour from the province.
After brick kilns, child labour will be eliminated from hotels, petrol pumps and workshops as well, he added. He said that child labour is a great crime and for elimination of this evil from the society we will have to move forward and eliminate this injustice forever.
He expressed these views while addressing a ceremony held in connection with World Day against Child Labour at Model Town, on Sunday.
"This time is not for levelling allegations but peeping into consciences and self-accountability" he added. He said that instead of levelling allegations, those involved in corruption will have to peep into their consciences and also be held accountable for 60 million dollars of the nation deposited in Swiss Banks. He said that instead of wasting precious time of the nation, there is a need to ameliorate the lot of the poor and spend resources on the welfare of the nation.
He said that the fate of the country can be changed through hard work and honesty. Punjab government has given an exemplary package for equipping the children working at brick kilns with education under which, these children will serve the country and the nation after becoming scientists, engineers and doctors, he added.
The Chief Minister announced that a stipend of one thousand rupees per month will be given to the girl students of class 6th in all government schools of the province in coming budget.
The Chief Minister said that today World Day against Child Labour is being observed throughout the world. He said that this day is also celebrated in Pakistan and Punjab. He said that Punjab government has not only raised slogans for elimination of child labour from the province but also taken revolutionary steps. He said that children involved in child labour are deprived of education for the last 69 years and now no one will be allowed to make the future of these children breach. Shahbaz Sharif said that strict punishment will be awarded to brick kiln owners found involved in child labour at brick kilns. He said that no one will be allowed to commit cruelty against such children. He said that Punjab government is providing a stipend of one thousand rupees per month to the children working at brick kilns besides they are being provided free of cost books, uniform, shoes and other educational facilities.
The Chief Minister said that Punjab government is providing these facilities to the children of lakhs of families. He said that Punjab government has announced a solid policy for making the future of children of the nation bright. Referring to raid at brick kiln during his visit to Kasur, Shahbaz Sharif said the labourers working at brick kilns have informed that no medical or first aid facility is available for them. He requested brick kiln owners to voluntarily provide medical facilities to the workers. He said that earning profit is right of brick kiln owners but provision of basic facilities to labourers is also their responsibility. He directed that Labour Department and Punjab government should ensure implementation of labour laws.
The Chief Minister said that child labour has been eliminated from brick kilns to a large extent, however, in case of any violation, the brick kiln owner and management will face strict punishment. He said that time has come to eliminate child labour from Pakistan and expressed the hope that child labour will be eliminated forever and children working at brick kilns will be equipped with education and become great builders of the nation.
Shahbaz Sharif said that International Labour Organisation (ILO) should extend cooperation to Punjab government for elimination of child labour. He said that we do not need financial assistance but want to benefit from the expertise and experience of ILO. He said that International Labour Organisation should become an active partner of Punjab government for eliminating child labour.