ISLAMABAD - Dr Nafeesa Shah, Chairperson National Commission for Human Development (NCHD), Mustafa Nawaz khokhar, Advisor to Prime Minister on Human Rights, and Begum Shahnaz Wazir Ali, Special Assistant to Prime Minister, called on Prime Minister Raja Pervez Ashraf at the Prime Minister’s House Tuesday and briefed him about status of human rights in Pakistan.
The Chairperson NCHD said that Commission had been striving to achieve the literacy ratio target set by UN for Pakistan in its Millennium Development Goals (MDG) to 86pc from the current literacy rate of 75pc. This, she hoped, would be achieved by the year 2015. For this purpose 6,200 literacy centres have been established where 141,460 students from all over Pakistan have been enrolled, they would get the basic literacy lessons. Of these 6,200 literacy centres, 50 were launched in Federally Administered Tribal Areas (Fata) with 1,005 freshly enrolled students, said Dr Nafeesa. The Prime Minister said that government has taken positive steps for the empowerment of women to let them play their due role in national development. The Chairperson, Advisor and the Special Assistant to Prime Minister also briefed the Prime Minister about their meetings with international organisations related to human rights.
Meanwhile Jahanara Manzoor Wattoo, Ambassador for Orphan Children and SAIEVAC Advisor to SAARC called on Prime Minister Raja Pervez Ashraf and apprised him of her contributions for child right. The Prime Minister congratulated her on her appointment as advisor to SAARC. “It is an honour for Pakistan to get such recognition internationally”, said the Prime Minister.
The Prime Minister directed Jahanara to hold a National Conference and take all the stakeholders on board, for creating awareness about child’ rights. He also directed her to consult SAARC countries and obtain their input for legislation in this regard.  The Prime Minister assured her of full support of his government for securing the future of Pakistan.
Meanwhile, MNA Dr Azra Fazal Pechuho called on Prime Minister Raja Pervez Ashraf at the Prime Minister’s House on Tuesday and briefed him about Polio Eradication Campaign and various other programmes run under the umbrella of Expanded Programmes of Immunisation (EPI). The Prime Minister directed Dr Azra to use all available resources to administer polio drops to all children. “Our children are our future, it is our duty to save them from fatal diseases”, said the Prime Minister. He also directed her to mobilize the local administration to facilitate the polio vaccination for administering polio drops to children. The Prime Minister approved the release of funds for a 300-bed hospital in Benazirabad as well as Shaheed Benazir Mother and Child Hospital, Benazirabad.