G G Jamal stresses to upgrade socioeconomic profile of children
By Asim Hussain

ISLAMABAD—Federal Minister for Culture, Dr G G Jamal has asked the doctors, teachers and lawyers to play their vital role to help the government in improving the socioeconomic profile of the children.
He was addressing the opening session of the 8th National Conference on Child Rights, Child Abuse and Neglect in Pakistan organized by Pakistan Pediatric Association (PPA), NWFP and Child Rights and Abuse Committee Monday. While appreciating the valuable contribution of PPA for the betterment of children the Minister emphasized better coordination with teachers and lawyers for saving children from all forms of exploitation.
The Minister said that Pakistan is a signatory to the Child Labor Elimination Convention 2001 and other Human Rights Conventions a proper mechanism is being formed for the implementation of these conventions. We have to change our attitudes and mindsets toward the causes of child exploitation and every member of the history of the evils, affecting the lives of innocent children, he added.
The Minister declared that children are our biggest asset and government is taking massive developmental steps like the provision of safe drinking water so that child mortality and morbidity rates can be brought down.
While highlighting the steps taken by the government, the Minster said that child labor is almost 7 per cent of our workforce and government is working on a National Plan of Action of elimination of child labor. The Minister said that a National Information Exchange System has been put in place for better coordination with NGOs regarding child labor.
Pakistan Bait-ul-Mall and Worker Welfare fund are also working to establish schools and provide assistance to orphan children. At least 93 percent child labor from soccer industry has been eliminated and 100 million have been allocated for rehabilitation of the affected children and their families. The government is cognizant of the urgency needed to curb the menace of child trafficking and Pakistan Human Trafficking Ordinance 2002 is being implemented with full vigor, he added.
The Minister expressed hope that the conference will yield concrete recommendations to help government from better strategies for changing fortunes of poor and hapless children.