LAHORE, March 28: Ministry of Human Rights Joint Secretary Amna Imran Khan on Wednesday consulted Home Secretary Shahid Khan on finalisation of the Universal Periodic Review (UPR) report to be submitted to the United Nations by October this year.The UPR established by the UN General Assembly in 2006 is a human rights mechanism which makes it obligatory upon all 192 member states to submit a report on their human rights obligations and commitments once every four years.

Pakistan submitted its first UPR Report in 2008 and the next is due to be submitted in October 2012 for which first draft has to be finalised by May this year. Ms Amna Imran Khan also held meetings with the secretaries of law, prosecution and human rights departments.

She said following the passage of the 18th Amendment many subjects to be reported upon on like health, education, women rights and labour fell under the provincial jurisdiction. Therefore, the current consultative process was aimed at finalisation of the UPR report in consultation with all stakeholders at the provincial level.

In this regard, all efforts were being employed for speedy collection and compilation of data with their help for achieving this objective.

Earlier, a consultative meeting was held on March 21 in which 17 secretaries were invited to discus the UPR and the input required in this context by different departments concerned. — Staff Reporter