Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz on Friday congratulated Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif and his team on presenting the fifth federal budget, describing it as a relief-oriented package aimed at extending the benefits of economic recovery to the common man.
In a statement issued, the chief minister paid tribute to the prime minister and his economic team for introducing what she termed a welfare budget, saying the time had come for the dividends of economic improvement to reach ordinary citizens.
CM Punjab said the budget would ease the burden on the salaried class and pave the way for greater public relief through industrial and agricultural growth.
“The welfare-oriented budget will ensure that every segment of society becomes part of the country’s economic progress,” she added.
Meanwhile; Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif on Friday reiterated her commitment to eliminating child labour and ensuring a safe, dignified and prosperous future for children across the province.
In a message issued on the occasion of the World Day Against Child Labour, she expressed the Punjab government’s resolve to eradicate child labour and urged parents to provide children with access to education, healthcare and recreational opportunities.
The CM said respect for children’s rights was a hallmark of a civilized society and maintained that Punjab was becoming a safer province for children. “Children are my red line,” she said, adding that violence, abuse or exploitation of children in any form was unacceptable.
CM Maryam Nawaz appealed to parents to treat children with love and care instead of forcing them into labour and warned that strict legal action would be taken against those employing children at brick kilns or any other workplace.
Referring to this year’s theme of the World Day Against Child Labour, “Fair opportunities for children, no to child labour, and dignified employment for youth,” she said it served as a reminder of the collective responsibility to protect children and secure their future.
She said institutions including the Child Protection and Welfare Bureau were actively working to safeguard children’s rights and welfare across the province.”Every child is our future. We want to see books and laptops in their hands, not bricks, stones or iron tools,” the chief minister said, adding that initiatives such as the Honhaar Scholarship Programme and laptop distribution scheme were encouraging children to pursue education.
She stressed that child labour could not be eliminated through individual efforts alone and called for collective awareness and action to address the challenge effectively.
Maryam Nawaz said the Punjab government remained committed to fulfilling its responsibilities regarding children’s nutrition, education, upbringing and healthcare. She added that the School Meal Programme was being implemented to help address malnutrition among schoolchildren and support their healthy development.