LAHORE: Unicef Child Protection Specialist Shamshad Qureshi has said that three million children were still engaged in labour and thousands were languishing in jails due to complicated prosecution process.

Speaking at the Punjab Ombudsman’s children complaint office workshop for government officers at the Civil Secretariat here on Saturday, he said that cases of thousands of children were pending in courts for a long time due to complicated prosecution process.

The process for investigation of complaints pertaining to rights of children also required to be simplified and made friendly.

Punjab home secretary Nadeem Hassan Asif said that the provincial government would offer full cooperation to the ombudsman to ensure the protection of the rights of the children.

He said that rehabilitation of the child beggars and reforms in the jails system were the priorities of the government.

Social welfare secretary Tariq Feroze said that aims and objectives of children complaint office would be achieved through the children assembly.

Zakat secretary Karim Bakhsh said that funds would be made available for the welfare of the children.

SSP Imran said the police would remove lacunae in investigation system in consultation with the children complaint office.

Labour deputy director Ambreen said the provincial government was providing informal education to 10,000 child labourers in Lahore and Kasur.

Ombudsman secretary Javed Nisar Ahmed Khan said that a partnership would be established with media and NGOs for the protection of the rights of the children.