LAHORE - Chief Minister Shehbaz Sharif has said training, education and proper care of children is essential for progress and prosperity of the country.
“It is the collective responsibility of society to play its due role for elimination of child labour and help them groom into constructive citizens,” the CM said in a message on World Day against Child Labour .
Shehbaz Sharif said that the purpose of observing this day is to save the country’s children from forced and bonded labour besides providing them maximum opportunities of education so that a bright future could be ensured to them.
He said that the Punjab government has undertaken effective legislation for curbing child labour and made comprehensive measures for this purpose. “Punjab has taken a lead over other provinces with regard to legislation against child labour and its effective implementation,” the CM held.
He added that a vigorous campaign was continuing successfully for elimination of child labour from industrial and trade organisations, especially brick kilns. “Child labour has almost been curbed from brick kilns in the province,” the CM said in his statement.
Due to this step of Punjab government, Shehbaz said, the trend of child labour at hotels, workshops, petrol pumps and factories is decreasing and it is hoped that it will soon be rooted out.
He further said that all-out resources are being made available for the education of the children who were working at brick kilns. “Working for elimination of child labour is a form of worship,” Shehbaz said, urging the need to work as a team for achievement of this objective.
He said that complete eradication of child labour is mission of the PML-N government and no effort will be spared in this regard. The Chief Minister said that World Day against Child Labour demands that all segments of the society should play their due role in this regard so that this evil could be curbed.