Solid measures to be taken for curbing child labour: CM

LAHORE:Punjab Chief Minister Sardar Usman Buzdar chaired a meeting to review the performance of the Labour Department at the CM office on Sunday. Addressing the meeting, he said that a Labour Tower would be constructed in Lahore under the supervision of the Labour Department.

He also directed to review the proposal of setting up of hostels for the labourers and industrial workers. It was principally decided in the meeting to turn Punjab Employees Social Security Institution and Punjab Workers Welfare Funds into smart organisations. The meeting further decided that COMSATS would establish a campus on the land of the Labour Department in Defence Lahore where 30 per cent of children of labour and workers would get free education.

He further directed the authorities concerned to take solid measures for curbing child labour. Usman Buzdar said that land of the Labour Department worth 2 billion rupees had been evacuated from the Qabza Mafia. Similarly, 144 flats of labourers and workers in Sheikhupura, Kot Chatha and other areas got vacated from Qabza Mafia as well. He maintained that the minimum wage of the workers in Punjab had been fixed to Rs 20 thousand, adding that incumbent government, during its two and a half year tenure, had given raise of Rs 5000 in the minimum wage of labourers and workers.

He said that free of cost medical facilities had been provided to a common man in Social Security Hospitals of Lahore and Muzaffargarh. Usman Buzdar directed to complete the construction of 720 flats project for the workers and labours at the earliest.

He said that Social Security Hospitals were being constructed in Taunsa, Sargodha and Faisalabad, whereas the cardiology department had been established in Khawaja Farid Social Security Hospital in Multan for the labours. As many as 98 per cent of payments were made online for Social Security Card. He said that the marriage grant had been increased from one lakh to two lakh. Similarly, the amount under the head of death grant had also been increased from five lakh to six lakh. Free online service was being provided for the registration of factories.

The meeting also reviewed the proposal of setting up of PESSI Medical College and Nursing School. Secretary Labour gave the detailed briefing of departmental performance and measures taken for providing facilities to the workers. Provincial Minister Labour Ansar Majeed Niazi, Principal Secretary to CM, Secretary Labour, head of Special Monitoring Unit and concerned officials were present on this occasion.

Meanwhile, Punjab Chief Minister Usman Buzdar has taken notice of a kidnapping and murder of a child in Karyala Chakwal and sought a report from Regional Police Office (RPO) Rawalpindi.

The Chief Minister directed for the immediate arrest of the accused and fulfill the requirements of the justice, said a handout issued here on Sunday. Usman Buzdar assured justice to the bereaved family of the child and extended heartfelt sympathies and condolences with them.

Govt taking steps to protect human rights: minister: Punjab Minister for Human Rights and Minorities Affairs Ejaz Alam Augustine said on Sunday the Punjab government was taking numerous steps to protect human rights in the province.

Addressing the ceremony of formation of legal committees across the province to provide legal and moral assistance to the people on the basis of human rights here, he said that there was a need to create awareness about human rights among the common people and in this regard establishment of legal committees across the province would prove a milestone.