MoHR launches survey on child labour in Pakistan

Islamabad : To collect the scientific data of the child labour, Ministry of Human Rights (MoHR) in collaboration with UNICEF on Monday launched National Child Labour Survey in Pakistan.

President Dr. Arif Alvi graced the occasion as chief guest. Besides, Human Rights Minister Dr Shireen Mazari, Parliamentary Secretary Human Rights Lal Chand, Secretary Human Rights Rabiya Javeri Agha, Secretary Ministry of Statistics Shaista Sohail, Head of DFID Joanna Reid, UNICEF Country Representative Aida Girma and ILO Country Director Ingrid Christensen were among the Key speakers.

The objectives of the event were to recognize and appreciate the efforts of federal as well as provincial governments towards prevention and elimination of economic exploitation and to share the progress made on the child labour survey across the country. Besides that, the event was meant to launch the data collection process for child labour survey in Pakistan.

Human rights minister Dr. Shireen Mazari addressing the launching ceremony said that the government was committed to improving children’s rights, and glorifying international convention on child labour.

“It is our priority to ensure the endowment of education and health to the children across the country. Beyond rhetoric we have to take the pragmatic steps to eliminate the child labour and to improve their living standards, our constitution grantees to provide the fundamental rights to the children,” she said.

Federal Minister said that we are taking pragmatic steps in this regard and we are committed to ensure the provision of basic health and education facility to the children with a concrete focus to prevent all kinds of child abuse.

Dr. Shireen Mazari said that purpose of this child labour survey is to collect the scientific data of the child labour in the country to get an empirical data which will help not only to address the real issues but also to devise a comprehensive policy. “Ministry of Human Rights is determined to devise result oriented policies on the basis of this data,” she said.

Mazari further said that child labour is unaccepted in any democratic and progressive society and without the provision of the basis fundamental rights of the children success becomes a night mare.