KHANEWAL
The district police arrested four brick-kiln owners on the charges of alleged violation of the Child Labour Act during raids here on Monday.
The campaign is part of the strict measures adopted to prevent child labour at brick-kilns across Khanewal district. Both DCO Khalid Mehmood Sheikh and DPO Jahanzeb Nazir Khan have launched a joint operation against child labour in brick-kilns.
The DCO along with DO Labour Naveed Qureshi and police personnel raided two brick-kilns - Bismillah Bricks and Dogar Sial bricks - located in Kabirwala. They observed that children between age 5 to 14 years were busy making bricks at the kilns.
Moreover, AC Mehar Akbar Zahoor also conducted raids on Awan bricks and Gillani bricks where he noticed child labour. Owner of Bismillah Bricks, Hamid Butt and manager of Dogar Sial bricks were arrested on the spot. The officials also sealed all the bricks kilns and FIRs have been registered against the owners for violation of the Child Labour Act. Later, the DCO told the media that the Punjab government has banned child labour of less than 14-year and has declared it as a crime.
Drive against unhygienic food underway
kasur
The administration has warned the owners of brick-kilns to desist from employing child labour or get ready for stern action including imprisonment.
Kasur Assistance Commissioner Mashhood Shorish hurled the warning during inspection of brick-kilns in different areas of district Kasur here on Monday. She visited brick-kilns and checked child labour.
She emphasised that the owners must make sure that there is no child labour working at any brick-kiln. She declared that if any owner found forcing child labour to work, stern ation would be taken against him. The AC pointed out that the punishment for violation of child labour act includes imprisonment of up to six, fine and closure of the brick-kiln.
Meanwhile, the AC visited different areas of the city and checked the price lists. She issued warnings to some shopkeepers and also sealed a petrol pump for overcharging. On directives of Acting Kasur DCO Muhammad Shahid, AC Mashhood Shorish visited different bazaars to check sale of substandard food items and profiteering. She fined a couple of shopkeepers for not displaying price list. She also enquired from the customers the rates and quality of foodstuffs.
The AC fined few shopkeepers for selling unhygienic food items. Mashood Shorish also paid visit to filling stations and sealed a petrol pump for overcharging.