DLP Report
PESHAWAR
The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Minister for Labour, Fazal Shakoor Khan, has emphasized that poverty was the primary cause of child labour in third-world countries.
He urged all stakeholders, including government institutions, civil society, the private sector, and international organizations, to work collectively under a unified strategy to eliminate child labour.
He particularly stressed the need to provide social protection, skill development, and educational opportunities to out-of-school children.
The KP labour minister said that the provincial government has established the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Coordination Committee on Child Labour, which comprises various stakeholders, saying that the said committee will play a vital role in enhancing coordination efforts to prevent child labour in the province.
He expressed these views while addressing a stakeholder consultation workshop in Peshawar, held to review the proposed Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Child Labour Policy 2025.
The workshop was attended by representatives from UNICEF, UNHCR, the Director of Labour, the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Child Protection Commission Chief, and other key stakeholders.
In his speech, the minister highlighted the significance of addressing child labour and formulating an effective strategy for a brighter future for children
He mentioned that this consultation workshop was organized in light of the KP Child Labour Survey 2022-23, which provided valuable insights into the ground realities of child labour in the province.
“The revision of the policy is aimed at identifying gaps in the previous policy, discussing challenges, and formulating a future course of action,” he said.
Mr Fazal Shakoor Khan expressed his gratitude to all stakeholders for sharing their recommendations, which will contribute to the development of a strong and comprehensive strategy.
He encouraged further suggestions to strengthen child labour prevention efforts.
He concluded by stating, “If we play our key role in preventing child labour today, these children will become valuable assets for the nation tomorrow.”
