Prime Minister urges civil society, media to work towards well-being of children

Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani urged media, parents, political parties and civil society organisations to come forward and devote maximum attention and resources for education and character building of children.
In a message on the occasion of Universal Children Day falling on Sunday (today), he said the observance of Universal Children Day around the world is an occasion to remind people of responsibilities towards children and evolve and implement strategies to ensure their wellbeing. Pakistan joins the world community in celebrating this day in pursuance of the UN's resolution 836 (IX) passed by the General Assembly in 1954 which called upon the states to institute a day to promote understanding of the issues of children. The day also marks the adoption of the Declaration of Rights of Child in 1959 and the Convention on the Rights of the Child in 1989.
Gilani said children are the future builders of their nations. "They represent the continuity of humanity and the future of any nation depends upon the investment we make in their wellbeing and welfare at different levels." In order for them to grow into responsible and productive citizenry, both the state and society have to play a leading role in their moral and social training, he observed. He said this is possible if the societies evolve mechanisms to protect their rights and provide them opportunities for fulfilment.
The government of Pakistan is aware of its responsibilities on its part and is committed to implementing commitments contained in various international legal instruments and Millennium Development Goals, he said. The prime minister said, "as a part of Education for All initiative, we have already inserted Article 25-A into the Constitution, which declares education as a fundamental right of each child and provides for free provision of education for children from the age of five to sixteen."
"In our efforts to work for raising literacy rates, the government has particularly been focused on the education of female children," he said adding, "It is my earnest belief that if we are able to provide quality education to our children, the future of the nation will continue to remain in safe hands." Gilani said, "I have made it a point to address the students and youth to encourage active interaction with them and to make them feel that they are the centre of our hopes."
"I do so as part of my responsibility towards the future builders of the nation. The government has launched a number of programmes to impart quality education to our children," he added. The prime minister said the vision projected in the day for children is worth pursuing and the government will undertake all possible measures to espouse the cause of children of the nation.