LAHORE: Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FPCCI) President Atif Ikram Sheikh has said that protecting, educating, and empowering children is fundamental to building a strong, prosperous and sustainable Pakistan.
He expressed these views at Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signing ceremony between FPCCI and Child Protection and Welfare Bureau (CPWB) Punjab, to promote child protection, welfare, education, skills development, rehabilitation, and dignified employment opportunities for vulnerable children and youth. The MoU was signed by Zaki Aijaz, FPCCI Regional Chairman and Vice President, and Sara Ahmed, CPWB Chairperson, here.
Atif Ikram Sheikh stated that business community’s responsibility extends beyond economic growth to making meaningful contributions towards social development and nation-building. He reaffirmed FPCCI’s commitment to supporting initiatives which equip youth and underprivileged children with quality education, market-oriented skills, and sustainable employment opportunities, enabling them to become productive and responsible members of society.
Addressing the signing ceremony, Zaki Aijaz described the agreement as a significant milestone in strengthening public-private collaboration for child welfare and youth empowerment. Under this partnership, he noted, children and young people under the care of Child Protection & Welfare Bureau would have access to technical and vocational training, digital literacy programmes, internships, apprenticeships, employment opportunities, entrepreneurial development, financial literacy, career counselling, and mentorship designed to meet the demands of the modern workforce.
He stated that FPCCI would actively engage its member chambers, trade associations, and industrial enterprises to facilitate internships, apprenticeships, and employment opportunities for eligible youth. He added that both organizations would jointly organize conferences, seminars, workshops, business dialogues, awareness campaigns, and Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) forums to promote child rights, responsible business practices, and sustainable community development.
On this occasion, CPWB Chairperson Sara Ahmed said that partnership represents a significant step forward in creating brighter futures for orphaned, neglected, and vulnerable children. She emphasized that collaboration with private sector would help provide these children with access to quality education, practical skills, self-confidence, and dignified employment opportunities, thereby facilitating their social and economic rehabilitation and enabling them to become active contributors to society.
