LAHORE  - Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif has said that complete elimination of child labour from brick kilns is his mission.
“Pen and book instead of brick will be handed to children and all-out resources will be utililised for the purpose,” he said in his address to a body on fight against child labour yesterday.
He ordered indiscriminate action against owners of brick kilns involved in child labour. The CM said that the ministers, elected representatives, police and administration should ensure complete elimination of child labour. He said that inspection of brick kilns should be continued regularly and strict action should be taken on the violation of law.
Shahbaz said the Punjab government has given a revolutionary package of free education and other educational expenses for the children working at brick kilns.
He said two thousand rupees will be given to the parents on the admission of children in schools while one thousand rupees will be given to every child going to school. He said that stationery, books and uniform will be provided free of cost to the children going to school.
The CM said that free educational package will be implemented from the commencement of new academic year which is starting from April. He said that taking labour from minor children at brick kilns will not be tolerated.
Shahbaz said that he is personally monitoring the steps being taken for elimination of child labour. He directed that the campaign for elimination of child labour should be continued in an effective manner and on receiving complaint of child labour, the brick kiln should be sealed and owner arrested. He directed that a comprehensive plan should be evolved for eliminating child labour from hotels, workshops and other professions and final recommendations be formulated and submitted within 30 days.
In another address through video link, CM Shahbaz has directed the authorities concerned to ensure strict implementation of the plan evolved for security of private and public educational institutions.
He said that effective monitoring of security arrangements of schools, colleges and universities should be continued. The CM said that concerned authorities should personally review implementation of prescribed security plan regularly. He said that no compromise will be made on the steps being taken for the security of public and private educational institutions.
Security arrangements in educational institutions of the province were reviewed in detail during the conference. Addressing Provincial Cabinet Committee for Law & Order, divisional commissioners, RPOs, CPOs, DCOs and DPOs, the Chief Minister said that equipping the children with education in a safe atmosphere is our joint responsibility and we have to fulfill it at every cost. He directed that the committee constituted for formulating anti-terrorism narrative should complete its work at the earliest. He directed to constitute separate committees for reviewing arrangements made under security plan in the existing educational institutions at all divisional headquarters of the province. Shahbaz Sharif said that members of these committees will review security plan at their respective divisional headquarters and submit report.