15 April 2005	Friday	04 Rabi-ul-Awwal 1426

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ISLAMABAD, April 14: Federal Minister for Social Welfare and Special Education Zobaida Jalal on Thursday informed the National Assembly that a comprehensive child protection law would be drafted during the current year. In response to a question by Ramesh Lal, she said 78 existing laws concerning children had already been reviewed. She said Pakistan had ratified the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) in 1990 and was under obligation to implement it.

The convention is based on a multi-sectoral approach, covering child survival, participation, development and protection, she added.

The government has accorded priority to the education and health rights of children, whereas new initiatives for establishing child protection authority and centres have also been taken.

Moreover, in accordance with the CRC, Pakistan had submitted two implementation reports to the Geneva-based UN committee on the rights of child in 1992 and 2001, she said.

A number of initiatives to implement the CRC have also been launched. These are: Promulgation of juvenile justice system ordinance 2002; prevention and control of human trafficking ordinance 2002; Punjab destitute and neglected children act 2004; access to justice programme; legislation for compulsory primary education; education for all; food and nutrition programme, and national nutrition strategic plan.

Other initiatives include establishment of national centres for rehabilitation of child labourers; child survival strategy for Pakistan; preparation of national plan of action for children; observance of year 2004 as year of child welfare and rights; awareness campaign “Say yes to child rights movement in Pakistan” and issuance of birth certificates by Nadra.

To another question, the minister said at present the country has 1,918,705 disabled men, 1,374,450 women, 1,100,898 children and 574,328 senior citizens.

The National Policy for People With Disabilities has been approved and plan of action for implementation of the policy is being finalized, she said.

Besides declaring all provincial capitals and Islamabad disabled-friendly cities, a park for the disabled is under construction in F-9 park, Islamabad, which would be first of its kind in Asia, she added.

The minister said that this year the Federal Public Service Commission (FPSC) had allowed disabled students, other than mentally retarded, to appear in the CSS examination.

She said the ministry had established 58 institutions and centres for welfare, education and rehabilitation of special persons.

In reply to yet another question about the low enrolment of women with disabilities at the centres in Fata and Northern Areas, she said it was because of the social norms in the areas which, she said, was unfortunate.

She said the preparation and issuance of identity cards to the special persons was in the final stage.

Ms Jalal said special children studying in government schools, colleges and universities could obtain scholarships from the Baitul Maal. She said the ministry had planned to upgrade all primary, middle and high schools for special persons.