LAHORE: The Punjab Human Rights and Minorities Affairs Department has suggested setting up of a task force to implement the federal action plan on human rights, UN treaties and international laws.

A summary containing the suggestion has been submitted to the chief minister to seek a formal go-ahead on the plan, an official said.

The proposed task force on human rights, to be headed by the human rights minister, will have its cells at the district level.

At the provincial level, the additional chief secretary, HR secretary and secretaries of other relevant department as well as three members of the Punjab Assembly will be members of the force.

The district level cells will be headed by DCOs with DPO, EDOs of health, education and community development departments and two MPAs as its members.

The task force will be responsible for implementing at grassroots level the action plan already prepared by the federal government. The plan comprises UN treaties, international conventions, legal reforms and monitoring of the human rights situation.

Published in Dawn, July 2nd, 2016