F.P. Report
Peshawar: Chief Minister Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Mahmood Khan approved the opening of campuses of Zamung Kor in Abbottabad, Swat and D.I Khan and also establishing campus of Zamung Kor in Peshawar city for female kids directing to acquire land and building for the purpose. He was presiding over a meeting regarding extension of Zamung Kor to the other districts of province and talking to a delegation of Azad foundation U.K at Chief Minister House Peshawar.
Chief Minister has said that Zamong Kor is a unique model for the state children and his government was planning to further expand it to Abbottabad, Swat and Mardan adding that it is not the end but the beginning of strengthening the Zamong Kor project and it would be extended to more areas of the province in future.
The foundation gave a detail presentation about the street children and their rehabilitation including their look after, education and thereafter making them useful citizen of the society. One of the street children has become the prominent and best player participated in the Pakistan Premier Football League of Karachi, the head of delegation informed the Chief Minister. The meeting focused on the previous decisions of the PTI government for social protection to the street children, legislation in this regard and the proposed guidelines prepared by the foundation for the vulnerable, beggars, child laborers and collecting data through geo-mapping. They also suggested the socio and Psycho analysis of such children exploring their talent in order to integrate them in the overall societal frame. They also talked about the prevention and protection of children and appreciated the provincial government’s efforts through Zamong Kor and other such plans for the benefit of street children in the province. The foundation also signed an MoU with social welfare department which would be brought to the forum of provincial assembly for legislation. Minister Information Shaukat Yousafzai and Secretary Social Welfare attended the meeting.
Talking to the delegation, the Chief Minister assured to expand the model of Zamong Kor for the better future of our coming generation. The government would open new campuses of Zamong Kor in other districts to rescue the children at risk and rehabilitate them. He asked the foundation to sit with the social welfare department for a complete plan which he assured would be given approval and necessary legislation would be made for protection, prevention and welfare of street children.
The Chief Minister appreciated the improved baseline for the statistics of vulnerable and at risk children so that the government could take practically shape up a plan for working to convert the state children into highly educated youth who would become the future asset of the province. The government would make legislation for their rehabilitation. Agreeing to the multi prong strategy for rehabilitation of state children, he stressed the need for behavioral study of the runaway children, beggars and child laborers so that the government can plan a realistic strategy for their rehabilitation.
Mahmood Khan assured to work on the integration of street children through quality education and training exploring their strength and talent so that the state children could become an asset for the society. The government would also welcome to enhance the earning of parents of vulnerable and at risk children which would be protective and preventive sides of the problem. The government would facilitate the rehabilitation of street children in order to accomplish the task of their social integration.
The Chief Minister called upon the community to come forward and support this innovative approach for supporting the families of vulnerable and at risk children and assured that the government would also undertake the capacity building of the groups within the society to fill the gap existed because of the society weaknesses. The government would give guiding principles to make a complete model of upbringing, protection and prevention of the street children and the model would be replicated in some other areas of the province. We would work on it and we would show our commitment as we have the political will to work for poor segment of society.
Mahmood Khan assured a protected future for the state children. He also welcomed the Pakistani living abroad for their sincerity and commitment to supplement the government efforts for the welfare of the street children. We are thankful to the overseas Pakistani for their trust on PTI government and his government would come up to the expectations of the people, he assured.
