LAHORE: A team of the UNDP Pakistan met the Punjab minister for human rights and pledged to provide technical and other forms of assistance to support the human rights department in evolving a provincial human data collection mechanism.

The UNDP representatives, led by Emma Bell, said the organisation would develop a capacity building training programme for the provincial line departments, including Punjab Treaty Implementation Cell regarding basic human rights obligations as well as implementation of a pilot initiative for capacity building of staff at the district level.

It will also facilitate the department in establishing and maintaining linkages with relevant provincial and national stakeholders.

The delegation had called upon Ijaz Alam Augustine at the camp office of human rights on Thursday. They expressed the desire to sign an MoU regarding the improvement of the human rights situation, leading to a more inclusive and peaceful Pakistan.

Secretary of HR&MA Department Dr. Irshad Ahmed hoped that through this collaboration, UNDP Pakistan would help raise awareness initiatives on existing rights-based mechanisms in Punjab. He said the department should avail this opportunity to protect the rights of people throughout the province.

Minister Ijaz Alam assured them that proposal of UNDP would be considered and hopefully MoU would be signed soon after mutual consultation. He said the Punjab government was determined to build a society based on principles of social and economic justice and for this collaboration of UNDP would be helpful to achieve the goals of human rights department. He directed Dr. Irshad to compile a brief report to review proposal of UNDP for working together.

Published in Dawn, February 7th, 2020