Aziz urges SA states to benefit from each other's experiences
20 May, 2005
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ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister, Shaukat Aziz embraces a disabled child, Hafiz Muhammad Sheraz during a seminar on violence against Children. Federal Minist |
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ISLAMABAD, May 21 (Online): Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz has said that it was imperative that South Asian countries should benefit from each other's experiences to tackle decade old common problems for the well-being of people of the largest continent.
Addressing at UNICEF concluding session of South Asian regional countries conference on violence against children arranged by the ministry of special education and social welfare here Friday, the Prime Minister underscored that Afghanistan and India were our neighbours and Pakistan had lasting relations with Bangladesh while Nepal, Sri Lanka, Maldives were rich in natural resources all these countries should expedite efforts to bring prosperity to the region.
Federal Minister for social welfare Zobaida Jalal, special representative of UN secretary general Sirgev Penharo and regional director of UNICEF Miss. Silya Robert also spoke on the occasion.
Referring to violence against children issue, the Prime Minister said that issue of children was collectively important for us all as children were our future assets and we should work out long-term strategies to tackle challenges faced to the children.
He admitted that millions of children on daily basis were subjected to different kind of violence and this was the responsibility of all South Asian countries to take solid measures to address the menace on permanent basis.
He assured that Child Protection Centre would be established in the federal capital, which would play pivotal role in the growth and character building of children.
"We should explore ways to ensure children's rights and security," he said adding it was responsibility of the government to provide peaceful environment to the children.
About peace in the region, he said that Islamabad was striving hard to maintain peace in the region as peace was key to economic development.
Addressing on the occasion Federal Minister for special education and social welfare Zubaida Jalal said that South Asian countries should chalk out comprehensive strategy for the welfare of the children.
She said that legislation was under consideration to make children working in factories and begging in bazaars useful citizens of the society. The government is taking revolutionary measures to control violence against children in the country.
She asserted that strict measures would be taken to control menace of children smuggling and it was high time to create awareness about children's rights. She underscored that proposals and recommendations proposed today by various speakers to take steps for children rights would be presented in the United Nation Assembly for proper implementation.
She was optimistic by saying that with the extended cooperation of Unicef and foreign institutions Islamabad could become able to control violence against children effectively.
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