In 1999, a project titled ‘Combating Child Labour’ in the Carpet Industry in Pakistan was launched within the framework of the ILO-PCMEA Agreements, with financial support from Pakistan Carpet Manufacturers and Exporters Association (PCMEA) and the US Department of Labour (USDOL). The project was aimed at reducing child labour in the carpet industry, initially in Sheikhupura and Gujranwala districts. The main purpose was to provide education to working children as an alternative to work. It also provided an opportunity to families of these children to gain access to other employable skills.

A family-based approach was adopted and reliance was placed on viable income replacement schemes for the families of carpet weaving children, particularly mothers, through income generation and skill development programs. First Women Bank Limited was the implementing partner of this major component of the project. It provided easy access to its financial and non-financial services to families of carpet weaving children.

Upon successful achievement objectives Phase-I, the collaboration of ILO and FWBL “to combat child labour in the carpet industry” was extended to Phase-II for a period of 14 months. After the successful program in the district of Gujranwala, Sheikhupura and Hafizabad, the project is being replicated in the district of Faisalabad, Toba Tek Singh and Multan to cover 220 villages.