Pilot scheme announced in Punjab to curb child labor

The Government of Punjab has decided to launch a pilot scheme aimed at eliminating child labor and helping working children return to school through financial support.

The initiative focuses on removing children from labor activities and enrolling them in educational institutions and technical training programs. According to officials, the first phase of the pilot project will begin in nine districts, where authorities will provide financial assistance to 2566 identified children.

Under a Conditional Cash Transfer program, each eligible child will receive PKR 9,000 per month. This financial support will encourage families to send their children back to school instead of engaging them in labor. Furthermore, the government has allocated PKR 300 million for the pilot phase, which will run from April 1, 2026, to March 31, 2027.

Officials confirmed that the first payment will be released one month after the official launch of the program. The funds will be transferred directly into the children’s digital accounts to ensure transparency and accountability. In addition, authorities will adopt a coordinated system to identify deserving children and monitor their educational progress.

This structured mechanism will help track each case carefully and ensure that assistance reaches only eligible beneficiaries. Officials expressed hope that the program will significantly reduce child labor in the selected districts. Moreover, if the pilot phase produces positive results, the government plans to expand the initiative across Punjab.