‘Policy on human rights to be presented soon in Punjab’

LAHORE: Provincial Minister and Punjab Task Force for Human Rights Chairman Khalil Tahir Sandhu has said that the task force will soon present a provincial policy on human rights.

The minister said Pakistan was a signatory to 27 conventions of the United Nations. “It is our obligation under international treaties and GSP-Plus Status to improve the human rights situation,” he added. He said that task force would present its report after every six months.

He expressed these views while chairing the first meeting of the provincial Task Force on Human Rights at the Civil Secretariat.Sandhu said the federal government had allocated Rs 750 million for the human rights task force of Punjab. In Punjab, reforms are under process to control trafficking of human organs, child labour and forced labour, he said, adding that reforms were also under process with regard to the welfare of transgender community, prisons and protection of minorities’ rights.

He said that it was the need of the hour to ensure strict implementation of existing laws and propose amendments to the laws, where necessary.Additional Chief Secretary and Vice-Chairman of Human Rights Task Force Shumail Ahmed Khawaja said that human rights committees at the district level would be formulate soon. He directed all the provincials secretaries to appoint focal persons to ensure implementation of action plan of human rights.

Human Rights Department Secretary Ahsan Iqbal said the department was preparing a comprehensive mechanism to implement the action plan with the coordination of federal government. He said steps were being taken to create awareness of human right across the province.

Human Rights Deputy Director Muhammad Yousaf briefed the participants on the departmental responsibilities to ensure implementation of the action plan.MPA Ramesh Singh Arora was also present.