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       ISLAMABAD: Dr Nikhat Shakeel Khan, the convener of the Parliamentary Caucus on Child Rights (PCCR), has strongly condemned the alleged involvement of children in garbage collection in Karachi.

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       Earlier this week, the Shah Faisal assistant commissioner raided an office of the Sindh Solid Waste Management Board — the body tasked with garbage collection in Karachi — and recovered six children employed by a contractor to collect trash, according to media reports.

       The raid was conducted on the orders of the Karachi Division commissioner.

       The illegal employment of underage children is not just a grave violation of the Constitution but also a socially and morally corrupt act, the parliamentary caucus convener said.

       She added that the exploitation of children, while risking their well-being, particularly by contractors of public sector entities, was a grave violation of their rights and must be treated with zero tolerance.

       “I urge immediate and strict legal action against those responsible, including the contractor and relevant management, to ensure justice is served,” the MNA demanded.

       This incident underscored the need for stringent monitoring and enforcement mechanisms to eradicate child labour in all forms. PCCR was committed to advocating for policies that safeguard the rights of every child in Pakistan, Dr Khan said.

       Published in Dawn, December 8th, 2024