LAHORE: Punjab Minister for Industries and Commerce, Chaudhry Shafay Hussain, met with Rameez Behbudov, Chief of Field Office, UNICEF Punjab, to discuss collaborative efforts on education, health, skill development, and child welfare in the province. Both parties agreed to enhance cooperation in several sectors, including environmental protection and special education.

According to Directorate General Public Relation – Govt of Punjab, the meeting, held at PSIC House, was attended by UNICEF Education Specialist Sehar Raza Jafri and Sarah Rashid, Director General of the Punjab Skill Development Authority. Rameez Behbudov emphasized the positive impact of technical education on reducing child labor and shared plans for expanding UNICEF’s programs across Punjab, where the organization has been active since 1948.

Minister Hussain acknowledged UNICEF’s contributions and reiterated the Punjab Government’s commitment to strengthening collaboration in priority areas such as skill development and clean drinking water. He highlighted environmental protection initiatives, including the transition of brick kilns to zigzag technology, and efforts to eliminate child labor by providing technical education to affected children.

The Minister also discussed initiatives to promote industrial growth, including interest-free loans for industrialists and the development of new industrial estates. He noted Gujrat’s international reputation in manufacturing and suggested potential UNICEF technical support for skill development in the region. Additionally, he highlighted the introduction of language courses in TEVTA institutions to prepare workers for international opportunities.