ISLAMABAD, Aug 7: Pakistan Baitul Mal (PBM) has formally asked the federal labour ministry to return Rs100 million which the former had given to the latter to curb child labour in the country, official sources told Dawn.

The PBM had given the financial assistance to the ministry in 2001 to run various projects such as awareness raising, community mobilization and withdrawal of children from worst forms of labour under its national plan of action for elimination of child labour.

However, the sources said, so far, the ministry had failed to formulate even a single project. Therefore, the PBM has decided in principle to take its money back, which will be used on its various on-going projects.

When contacted for comments, PBM managing director Brig Mohammad Sarfraz confirmed that they had formally requested the labour ministry to return the amount.

Answering a question, he said, despite repeated reminders by the PBM, the ministry failed to initiate the projects for which the money had been provided.

The ministry was suppose to collaborate with the International Labour Organization and other stakeholders to target those areas where child labour had become a real issue, he said.

Brig Sarfraz maintained that, initially, the PBM was running 36 schools for rehabilitation of the children — falling in the age group of eight to 14 years — who had been withdrawn from hazardous and exploitative forms of labour.

In these schools, he said, uniforms, reading and writing material were provided free of cost. In addition to this, each student is entitled to Rs150 per month. Similarly, parents of these children are paid Rs250 per month as subsistence allowance.

Besides providing formal education, these schools also provide recreational opportunities and vocational training to the students.

Brig Sarfraz said the PBM was committed to providing full assistance to the students of these schools who wanted to continue their higher education at any level within or outside country.