ISLAMABAD, May 28: The first batch of Pakistani children smuggled to the UAE to be used as camel jockeys will arrive in Lahore on June 15, Minister of State for Overseas Pakistanis Senator Tariq Azim Khan said on Saturday. He was speaking during a meeting of the special committee formed on the instructions of Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz to bring back children sent abroad to participate in camel races.

These children will be handed over to the Child Protection and Welfare Bureau recently established by the Punjab government.

The committee comprises officials of the ministries of labour, interior, social welfare, Unicef Pakistan and Child Protection and Welfare Bureau, Punjab government.

Adviser to the Punjab chief minister Dr Faiza Asghar told the meeting that accommodation, educational and training facilities for 250 children were available at the Child Protection and Welfare Bureau. This bureau will also assist in tracing the parents of these children.

Unicef Pakistan Country Representative Dr Umar Abdi said Unicef would provide all possible technical and financial assistance for rehabilitation of these children.

The meeting also decided that the committee would enter into a dialogue with other countries like, Oman, Qatar and Saudi Arabia where children were being used for camel racing.

It said another rehabilitation centre for children would be set up in Rahimyar Khan district.