President Asif Ali Zardari, in his message on the occasion of World Day Against Child Labour, emphasised that child labour remains a global challenge that can only be addressed through coordinated efforts at both national and international levels.
Highlighting the collective responsibility to protect children from exploitation, the President said this day serves as a reminder of the urgent need to safeguard children’s rights and eliminate child labour worldwide.
President Zardari reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to ending child exploitation and noted that various practical steps have already been taken in this regard. These include the enactment of laws against child labour and exploitation, the establishment of effective systems and service units for rehabilitation and care of affected children, and the creation of institutions at the national level to protect child rights.
He urged employers to strictly comply with child labour laws and ensure workplaces are completely free of child exploitation. He also appealed to parents and guardians to prioritize their children’s education over short-term financial gains, and called on educational institutions and teachers to identify children at risk of dropping out.
The President encouraged media outlets to raise awareness on child labour and urged philanthropists and civil society to support vulnerable families so that no child is forced into labour due to poverty.
Speaking on the international front, President Zardari drew attention to the plight of children in conflict zones like Gaza. He noted that thousands of children have been displaced, injured, or orphaned due to violence, bombings, and aggression by occupying forces, and now face hunger, disease, and severe risks of child labour.
He called on the global community to urgently provide aid, protection, and justice to the children of Gaza.
President Zardari concluded by urging all stakeholders to take concrete and practical measures to eliminate child labour, ensuring a safe, educated, and bright future for every child.
