HARIPUR: The District Vigilance Committee (DVC), which is mandated to check human trafficking, child and bonded labour in Haripur, has started its functions.

At its maiden meeting held here on Thursday, the committee decided to set up a help desk at the office of the deputy director labour.

Deputy commissioner had notified the DVC in January following a notification from the home and tribal affairs department.

As per the notification, the DC would be the DVC chairman, while the district police officer, additional deputy commissioner, representatives of labour, social welfare and women empowerment departments, district public prosecutor, assistant commissioner headquarters and two representatives from civil society are its members.

The meeting was chaired by additional deputy commissioner relief and human rights Ms Shaista.

The participants said the help desk would receive complaints regarding human trafficking, child and bonded labour and take immediate action and submit monthly reports.

It was decided that the police would submit a breakup of the cases of human trafficking, child and bonded labour, and the DVC members would conduct monthly monitoring visits to all the tehsils of Haripur and compile a detailed report for taking remedial measures.

The members of civil society organisations would facilitate in arranging awareness sessions and printing and distribution of laws prohibiting human trafficking, child and bonded labour. The meeting decided to take on board the education department, officials of Ehsaas Kafalat programme, Pakistan Baitul Mal and district Zakat committee to end begging, child and bonded labour.

GIRL COMMITS SUICIDE: A teenage girl committed suicide in remote Chajian village on Thursday.

Sera-i-Saleh police quoted family sources as saying the girl, 17, went to her bedroom on Thursday morning and hanged herself from the ceiling fan.

The reason behind the suicide was not known, the police said.

Published in Dawn, March 11th, 2022