HYDERABAD, April 26: Child labour issue still remains a major concern for Pakistan particularly in Hyderabad where about 73 per cent children are working in bangle industry alone, said the speakers at one-day capacity building workshop for radio producers and reporters on child labour. The workshop was held at a local hotel on Thursday.

They said the main responsibility lies with the government authorities and social welfare organisations in controlling this menace.

The workshop was held under the aegis of ministry of information and broadcasting and the ILO under its national media plan of action to sensitise media persons on child labour.

The Federal Minister for Housing, Syed Safwanullah conceded that the child labour was rampant in the country adding about 75 per cent were engaged in the agriculture sector whose main cause was the Jagirdari system.

He pointed out that children work in fields with their parents as agriculture was under the control of these Jagirdars and pointed towards the neighbouring country, from where this system was abolished while here, feudal lords had turned schools into Otaqs and cattle pens.

For the education of children he said corrective measures were needed and stressed on cooperation between all stakeholders to eliminate the issue.

The National Project Manager ILO, Ms Saba Mohsin Raza quoting a fresh survey report on the bangle industry of Hyderabad said about 93 per cent child labour had been reported from the communities in Hali Road and Latifabad and 56 per cent from Ilyasabad.

According to survey, she said majority of children start working from the age of six which retards their growth. Awareness among radio producers and reporters will go a long way in enhancing their capacity to properly understand the issue, said

Ms Raza as the ILO and government were involved in eradicating this issue. This cooperation and commitment, she hoped will continue as child labour was a challenge for Pakistan.

The NRSP Project Manager, Ali Nawaz Nizamani in his speech said child labour issue had deep roots in our society and should be eradicated as it was affecting the foundation of our social fabric.

Noted columnist, Javed Choudhry said that although child labour was not a new issue but its increasing trends should be a matter of grave concern. He appreciated the efforts of all stakeholders in eradicating this menace and said that radio journalists had the main goal in highlighting this issue as radio was in more use in rural areas.

He suggested to media professionals to observe basic principles of reporting on child issue by protecting the identity of children. Nazim Latifabad taluka, engineer Sabir Kaimkhani also spoke on the occasion.

Later, group discussions were also held in which radio producers and reporters shared their views.