Labourers’ role vital in strengthening of economy: CM Askari

LAHORE: Punjab Caretaker Chief Minister Dr Hasan Askari on Thursday said that labourers played a key role in strengthening the national economy and trained human resource was the backbone of trade and industrial sectors.

Speaking during a meeting with Provincial Minister for Labour, Human Resource and Transport, Nauman Kabir, the chief minister said that the target of durable socio-economic development could not be achieved without giving due status to the working class

He said that the constitution of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan guaranteed protection of rights of labourers and added that the government was giving complete attention for the betterment of the working class.

“It is a responsibility of the government to give laborers and disadvantaged segments their due status in society,” he added.

CM Askari said that there was dire need to give special attention and educate the human resource according to global market needs so that Pakistani workforce could be accommodated in local and international markets.

He also said that continued implementation of skills development programme was imperative for providing quality training to the human resource.

“Child labour is a menace and the government has to eliminate it with solid steps,” he said, adding that the livestock sector had a tremendous potential to benefit the country.

Earlier at the occasion, Nauman Kabir apprised the chief minister about the performance of labour and human resource, livestock and transport departments.

COMMITTEE TO PROBE CHOLISTAN MINORS’ DEATHS CONSTITUTED:

Seaparately, on the directions of CM Hasan Askari, a four-member committee was constituted to probe the deaths of three minor girls in Cholistan.

Caretaker Law Minister Zia Haider Rizvi will head the committee while additional chief secretary (home), Multan RPO and Bahawalpur division commissioner will be its members.

The committee members will visit Bahawalnagar to probe the matter from all aspects and will dig out facts pertaining to the alleged murders. It will submit its report to the chief minister within seven days and also report the details to a Senate body after completion of the investigation.

Meanwhile, Zia Haider Rizvi has directed the committee members to collect any evidence and has assured a strict legal action if the occurrence of any crime is proved.

It merits mention that three minor girls were found dead in Fort Abbas town in Cholistan desert area. A sub-committee investigating the matter had revealed that they were raped before murder. The girls—aged 12, nine and six—were found dead on June 13 while the police had initially claimed that the girls had died a natural death.