ISLAMABAD, Feb 20: Adviser to the prime minister on women development and social welfare Nilofar Bakhtiar has asked the public and private sector stakeholders to give their input for formulation of a comprehensive National Child Policy and Plan of Action.

She was speaking at a function to mark the National Children's Day 2004, which had been decided to coincide with the birthday, January 9, of the late Hakim Muhammad Said. Though the Day falls on January 9, owing to the Saarc Summit, it was postponed.

In this regard, the ministry has already constituted a national level committee with representation from the departments concerned of the federal and provincial governments and the civil society organizations to collectively work for the national child policy.

"At present, we have 68.89 million children, which is 47.97 of the total population. Infant mortality rate is 83.3, while under-five mortality rate is 110. On Education side, the enrolment rate at primary level is 59 per cent with 15 per cent drop-out rate," she said.

Nilofar said the government was fully cognizant of the situation of children in the country. In this regard, she said, the government had taken a number of initiatives in many development areas for children including education, health and juvenile justice.

"By the end of the ongoing year, the ministry of social welfare will make it sure that juvenile justice ordinance is implemented in letter and spirit," the adviser said.

"The Compulsory Primary Education Act, Juvenile Justice Ordinance, Control of Human Trafficking Ordinance, Poverty Reduction Programmes, Ratification of ILO 182 Convention and National Policy for Disabled are reflective of our sincere efforts to address the issues of children," Ms Bakhtiar added.

About special children, she said the government had already declared a number of cities, including Islamabad, disabled- friendly and was ensuring that their mandatory one per cent quota of jobs was implemented both in private and public sector organisations.

She also called upon the private sector to help the government's efforts for child welfare, as the government alone was unable to successfully work on, what she called, a gigantic task.

About the day's background, Joint Secretary Shaukat Nawaz Tahir said the government had declared January 9 to be celebrated as National Children's Day to coincide with the birthday of the late Hakim Muhammad Said for his great services for the welfare of the children.