CM orders audit of industrial units

Says rundown industrial units should be immediately closed; forms body to check child labour

LAHORE

Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif presided over a meeting here Tuesday which reviewed the steps taken for the safety of labourers working in factories in industrial estates, survey of industrial units and elimination of child labour.

Addressing the meeting, the chief minister said that the grief of the families of labourers who died in Sundar tragedy could never be forgotten. He said that 45 precious lives were lost due to lust for money of some elements. He said that it was regrettable that such an incident had occurred in Sundar Industrial Estate which had latest facilities. He said that had the management of Sundar Industrial Estate and institutions concerned performed their responsibilities efficiently this intolerable accident could be avoided. 

He said that the institutions concerned would have to perform their duties efficiently to check such incidents in future. He directed that a comprehensive survey of industrial units in all industrial estates of Punjab be completed as early as possible. He ordered an inquiry into the construction of industrial units without permission to identify the persons responsible and take action. He directed a complete technical audit of industrial units by a committee of experts and said that industrial units in dilapidated condition should be immediately closed. 

The meeting decided that amendments would be made to Workmen Compensation Act for increasing financial assistance for the heirs of the workers involved in any accident and asked Law Department to present the draft of amendments in this regard. 

The meeting also decided to make amendments to the Act of 1992 for elimination of bonded labour for controlling forced labour from children at kilns. The chief minister said that Labour Department had not taken effective measures for elimination of forced labour from children at brick kilns. He announced setting up of a steering committee for eliminating forced labour from children. Shahbaz Sharif will be the head of the steering committee. The committee will take immediate measures for curbing forced labour from children at kilns and meet on regular basis. Secretary Labour gave a briefing on the steps taken for eliminating child labour especially forced labour from children at kilns while Secretary Industries informed about the progress regarding survey of factories in industrial estates. 

progress: Shahbaz Sharif has said that the Pakistan Muslim League-N government, led by Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, has put the country in the right direction during two and a half years. He said that compared to 2013, Pakistan today is moving towards progress and prosperity.

Talking to Members of National Assembly from various districts who called on him, here Tuesday, the chief minister said that every effort of the government had been directed towards improvement in the living standard of the masses. He said that all possible measures were being taken for the achievement of development targets and resolving energy crisis so that economy could be strengthened. He said that work was being carried out expeditiously on power projects. 

Shahbaz Sharif said that China had proved to be a sincere and reliable friend of Pakistan by giving a historic package of 46 billion dollars under China-Pakistan Economic Corridor Project. He said that under CPEC, a huge sum of Rs36 billion dollars had been allocated for energy projects. 

He said the PML-N government was implementing its agenda of public service and provision of basic amenities to the citizens in accordance with its manifesto. He said that every penny of public money was being spent only on projects of progress and prosperity of the people. 

Assembly members said that the Punjab government led by Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif had taken historic measures for the development of the province. They congratulated the chief minister on the agreement regarding provision of funds by China for Lahore Orange Line Metro Train Project. The elected representatives who called on the chief minister included Tehmina Daultana, Sardar Irfan Dogar and Nawabzada Mazhar Ali. Member Provincial Assembly Manshaullah Butt was also present on the occasion.