LAHORE - On the eve of May Day, a teenage labourer ended his life over poverty by consuming poisonous pills at his house in Baghbanpura, sources said on Wednesday.
The family told the police that Nuaman came back home from a nearby factory after a long day. As the poverty-stricken mother failed to serve him proper food, the 18-year-old boy got disillusioned and went to bedroom where he consumed poisonous pills. He was taken to hospital, where doctors pronounced him as brought dead. The police handed over the body to the family after fulfilling legal formalities.
Like other parts of the globe, International Labour Day will be observed across the country today (Thursday) to recognise the worker’s dignity and appreciate their resistance against injustices and discriminations. The day is observed in as many as 80 countries of the world. Canada and US have been observing the day in September every year. Seminars, rallies, workers conventions will be arranged by labour wings of political parties, trade unions and NGOs to mark the day.
Labour unions and workers organisation have planned rallies and protest in favour of their demands in different cities. In Lahore, All Pakistan Trade Union Federation will took out rally to show solidarity with all trade unions, workers, women organizations and individuals struggling under harsh and very challenging circumstances for protection of their rights.
The rally will start from Humdard Centre Lytton Road at morning via Begum Road to State Bank and end outside Punjab Assembly. APTUF leaders Sultan Khan, Fazal Wahid, Aima Mahmood, Munir Dogar, Nasir Mahmood, Shaukat Ali, Salma Liaqat and others will address. Bonded Labour Liberation Front will take out a rally from Lawrence Road that will end at Aiwan-e-Iqbal. BLLF Secretary General Ghulam Fatima and other labour leaders will address the seminar at Aiwan-e-Iqbal.
Meanwhile, Punjab Labour Minister  Raja Ashfaq Sarwar said the best way to pay homage to the sacrifices of labourers was to protect their rights.
Addressing labour convention arranged by PML-N Labour Wing in connection with International Labour Day, he said that Punjab government was taking steps for providing health, education and job opportunities to the families of labourers.