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Child labour
Pakistan is one of those countries where there exists a huge child labour, forced work and trafficking in human. Child labour has increased a lot due to problems like unemployment, poverty and illiteracy. Similarly, Covid-19 has also added fuel to fire. According to my research, hundreds of children studying in private school have got themselves enrolled in Government school while students already studying in govt schools have left them.
After reopening schools, the number of dropout children has risen to thousands. It is all because of social factors like poverty, unemployment, covid-19 and inflation. Mostly, children are pushed in child labour for lessening burden of their parents‘ shoulders. In Constitution of Pakistan 1973, there exists a prohibition of child labour. Article 11, (3) no child below the age of fourteen years shall be engaged in any factory or mine or any other hazardous employment. Despite constitutional prohibition, thousands of children are engaged in works. One can see everywhere children working as waiter, street seller, etc.
Government should take strict action against child labour. Effective policies should be formulated to cope with this menace. There should be strict implementation on Article 25-A which stipulates ´State shall provide free and compulsory education to all children of the age of five to sixteen years‘. Those who push their children in child labour should be punished.
IMTIAZ ESSA HALEPOTO
Jamshoro
Our beautiful world indeed
The other day I had come across two different news pieces on CNN. First off, there was news of the so-called tropical storm Delta. Such storms are no new but familiar to the world. Because of increasing concerns about climate change, the weather pattern has to be improved to the extent that the farming/economic crises can be saved just ahead of weather vagaries.
Besides, it is time to protect water-bodies/sources from changing climatic conditions – for which strong government action and local community involvement are needed.
My native areas like Tuticorin and Tirunelveli in Tamil Nadu have been filled with numerous water-bodies, trees and crop fields. Second, it was all about the coming election in New Zealand. In my personal opinion, New Zealand is a beautiful country that often escapes news radar. But a lot more has been happening out there. I fondly remember watching powerful cricket skills of Team New Zealand on TV way back in the early 1990s.
New Zealand is anything but complex but nothing but simply beautiful. I wish that something good would dawn on New Zealand out of this election result.
In Asia, Sri Lanka, Indonesia, Malaysia, Pakistan, Nepal, India are all beautiful countries – having been “growing economies” and contributing to the vast agriculture/farm produce. Each day unfolds none too gently. All we must remember is that everyday problems create all but happiness. Our world is not down under but beautiful yet powerful, sprawling over all corners.
P SENTHIL S DURAI
Mumbai
Educating street-children
For most of the lower-income segments in developing countries like Pakistan, literacy is the only way to elevate their quality of life. However, resource-limitations have always restricted the provision of education to the country’s low-income population. For breaking the shackles of poverty and ignorance, besides achieving progress, the nation must allocate sufficient funds for educational institutions.
Since the government budgets are not enough to educate the rapidly growing population of Pakistan, the successful business enterprises must take social-responsibility to uplift the vulnerable segments by enabling free-education, so no one is deprived of this basic right. Collective efforts for this noble cause, can promise sustainable socio-economic growth by nurturing a globally competitive workforce. An educational-revolution is urgently needed in the country.
I found it heartening to read about an inspiring initiative by Haleeb Foods – the most successful enterprise in Pakistan’s Dairy industry. It is committed to donate three rupees against every litre-pack of Haleeb Milk sold to the consumers. This generous donation is granted to Master Ayub’s Park-School in Islamabad, which is voluntarily providing free-education, for over 30 years now, empowering thousands of street-children, to lead respectable life.
With this contribution, Master Ayub’s humble but valuable school is able to meet its expenses and continues to add more facilities for the students. It is hoped that other large organizations will also take inspiration from this gesture and enrich the credible literacy-programmes, conducted by the government or other philanthropic organizations.
NABEEL AHMED
Karachi
