No check on child labour

Rawalpindi: The minor children working in shops and workshops at Chah Sultan need attention of the concerned authorities that are supposed to implement the laws related to elimination of the child labour from the society.

A brief visit to the auto-market in Chah Sultan can provide a clear picture about increasing child labour in this one of the top business centres of the city. Hundreds of underage children can be seen working in the workshops under the scorching sun in the summer season. 

"We are not responsible for the child labour because the parents themselves send their children to our workshops to earn livelihood. The government must provide alternative financial resources to poor families who are not able to make their both ends meet," said Wali Khan, a spare parts dealer at Chah Sultan.

It is pertinent to mention here that there has been no child labour survey for two decades in Punjab — the last one was conducted in 1996. Nasir, a 12-year-old boy who works at a tyre shop, said his father and two brother also work in Chah Sultan and now he is earning Rs5,000 to 7,000 per month, which is quite reasonable.