LAHORE Provincial Minister for Labour and Human Resources Raja Ashfaq Sarwar has said the Punjab government is taking vigorous steps for eliminating the bonded labour from all the industrial and trade organisations including brick kilns. He said the legislation is being made for providing legal protection to the labourers of brick kilns and saving them from exploitation. He said child labour will be eliminated through use of modern technology by preparing bricks at kilns. He expressed these views while addressing a meeting of the Provincial Committee for eliminating the bonded labour at the Civil Secretariat on Monday. Member National Assembly Muhammad Moeen Watto, Member Provincial Assembly Mian Muhammad Rafiq, Secretary Labour Ali Sarfaraz, DG Labour Muhammad Saleem Hussain, Director Law Department Mohsin Abbas Syed, representative of ILO Binyamin, labour leader Syeda Ghulam Fatima, Haji Muhammad Aslam Wafa and representatives of all concerned departments attended the meeting. The meeting discussed wages of kilns workers, implementation on minimum wages, further activating role of district vigilance committee and other relevant matters. Secretary Labour Ali Sarfaraz said that severe punishments are being made for eliminating exploitation of labour. He said the district labour officers have been directed to ensure implementation of payment of fixed wages to kilns workers. The meeting was told that the meeting of the Provincial Committee will be held after every three months. The ILO and Labour Department are making joint efforts for eliminating bonded labour and child labour at kilns. AIDS controls: Adviser to Chief Minister on Health Kh Salman Rafique has said the United Nations AIDS Control Programme strategy for 2016 to 2020 is being fully implemented in the province for controlling HIV/AIDS and transfer of its virus. He said the Punjab government is spending Rs 400 million annually on AIDS Control Programme and more funds will be provided under new PC-I. He was addressing an awareness seminar on AIDS arranged by Punjab AIDS Control Programme in connection with World AIDS Day on Monday. Director, Punjab, AIDS Control Programme Dr Salman Shahid, Director General Health Dr Amjad Shehzad, representative of Unicef Dr Naila Shahid, Dr Fahmeda of USAID, representative of Global Fund Dr Sajid, Deputy Manager of PACP Dr Faisal, international partners, representatives of NGOs, representatives of civil society, male and female besides a large number of transgender attended the seminar. Speakers said that there are number of causes for spread of AIDS and this disease should not be considered a stigma. He said that there should not be discriminately attitude towards patients of this disease. Dr Salman Shahid informed that PACP is being run with the resources of Punjab government which is making full funding. He said that access to HIV patients is a big challenge as they are reluctant to report due to various reasons. Dr Salman Shahid said that there are 6,152 registered AIDS patients in Punjab who are being provided free treatment facilities. He said a programme has also been started to protect the babies of women affected by AIDS from the virus which is yielding very encouraging results. He said out of 177 pregnant women suffering from AIDS only two babies have been born HIV positive which is a big success of this programme. Representative of Global Fund Dr Sajid said that though Punjab population is half of the country, however, Punjab is leading in disease control and the indicators of Punjab government in this regard are the best. Dr Salman Rafique said that besides government civil society, NGOs, media, religious leaders and all segments of society will have to make collective efforts for prevention against AIDS. He directed that UNAIDS Strategy should be implemented on fast track basis in Punjab and no effort should be spared for giving a practical shape to the theme of zero new HIV infection. He said awareness should be promoted in society against AIDS. Kh Salman Rafique further said that legislation will soon be made for empowerment of Blood Transfusion Authority for ensuring safe blood transfusion.
