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The Punjab Education Foundation HAS signed a Memorandum of Understanding to enhance educational opportunities for underprivileged children.
June 18, 2026
The Punjab Education Foundation and Families Set Free’s partner, Pakistan Partnership Initiative, today signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) aimed at expanding access to quality education for children living in brick kiln communities and other underserved populations across Punjab.
The partnership reflects a shared commitment to addressing the root causes of poverty, child labour, and social exclusion by linking educational access with broader efforts to modernize Pakistan’s brick kiln industry and create pathways to dignified employment for vulnerable families. The MoU was signed by Malik Shoaib Awan, Chairperson of Punjab Education Foundation, and Mr. Ashraf John Mall, Chief Executive Officer of Pakistan Partnership Initiative, in the presence of American businessman and FSF CEO Mr. Michael Brickley,
Under the partnership, the organizations will work together to identify out-of-school children, facilitate school enrolment and retention, support educational assessments, and strengthen educational opportunities for families affected by bonded labour, particularly within brick kiln communities.
Speaking on the occasion, Dr. Rubina Feroze Bhatti emphasized that education must remain at the center of efforts to break the cycle of poverty and exclusion, “Modernizing the brick kiln industry is important, but true transformation occurs when children leave worksites and return to classrooms,” she said. “Economic and social development must move forward together. Malik Shoaib Awan, Chairperson of Punjab Education Foundation, reaffirmed PEF’s commitment to reaching the most marginalized children across the province. “Every child deserves the opportunity to learn and succeed, regardless of their circumstances. Through partnerships such as this, we can expand educational access and help ensure that vulnerable children are not left behind,” he said.
Mr. Michael Brickley highlighted the importance of public-private partnerships in creating sustainable solutions for brick kiln communities. “The challenges facing these communities require collaboration between government, civil society, and the private sector,” he said. “By combining industry modernization, workforce development, and educational access, we can help create opportunities for families while ensuring that children are in school and equipped for a brighter future.”
Mr. Ashraf John Mall, CEO of Pakistan Partnership Initiative, said the partnership would strengthen efforts to support marginalized families and ensure that children have access to educational opportunities that can transform lives.
FAMILIES SET FREE APPLAUDS PUNJAB LEGISLATURE FOR TAKING SIGNIFICANT STEPS TO ERADICATE BONDED LABOR.
Joint Press Release: International Leaders Recognize Government of Punjab’s Institutional Reforms to Address Bonded Labor and Advance Sustainable Industrial Modernization
Lahore | Washington, DC | London
February 25, 2026
Mike Brickley, Chief Executive Officer of Families Set Free (FSF), and Grant Webster, Managing Director of the Christian Economic Forum (CEF), jointly commend the Government of Punjab and the Government of Pakistan for undertaking substantive reforms to eradicate bonded labor and modernize the brick kiln sector in alignment with international labor, environmental, and governance standards.
“The Government of Punjab has demonstrated clear political resolve in addressing a complex and long-standing challenge,” said Mike Brickley. “The establishment of a formal governance framework to eliminate bonded child labor marks a decisive transition from fragmented responses toward coordinated, system-level reform.”
A central component of this effort is the formation of the 15-member Provincial Steering Committee to Eradicate Bonded Child Labor, chaired by Senior Minister Marriyum Aurangzeb. As the first province to implement an integrated cross-sector strategy targeting exploitation in brick kilns and other high-risk industries, Punjab has institutionalized oversight, coordination, and accountability within its reform architecture.
“Importantly, the introduction of the Punjab Labour Code 2026 signals a long-anticipated modernization of the province’s labor governance framework,” Brickley added. “It aligns economic development with strengthened worker protections, sustainability priorities, and rule-of-law principles, reinforcing structural accountability and long-term reform.”
“The coherence between legislative direction, administrative coordination, and implementation mechanisms is both credible and encouraging,” said Grant Webster. “During our two-week visit to Pakistan with more than 20 CEF members, we engaged at the Prime Minister’s Office, the National Assembly, and the Punjab Assembly. These consultations provided substantive insight into the regulatory commitments supporting mechanization, enhanced labor protection, and environmental compliance. We observed professionalism, transparency, and urgency in the province’s response.”
“The establishment of the Steering Committee to Eradicate Bonded Child Labor represents a decisive and commendable institutional step,” said Øystein K. Selbekk, member of the CEF delegation and CEO Selbekk Invest AS. “From our arrival in Lahore to our departure from Islamabad, we experienced consistent professionalism, transparency, and constructive
engagement across government institutions. These qualities are essential to building long-term international confidence and sustainable reform.”
International recognition has further reinforced confidence in this trajectory. The Congressional Pakistan Caucus, chaired by Congressman Tom Suozzi (NY03) and Congressman Jack Bergman (MI01) has served as a pivotal catalyst in the fight against bonded labor. Their leadership and relentless efforts over the past year have helped drive measurable progress in Pakistan. In November 2026, the Co-Chairs of the Congressional Pakistan Caucus, Congressman Tom Suozzi and Congressman Jack Bergman, issued a formal letter acknowledging Punjab’s progress in eliminating bonded labor and advancing responsible industrial modernization.
In February 2026, the caucus received official communications from Senior Minister Marriyum Aurangzeb, Chair of the Committee; Mohsin Shanawaz Ranjha, Co-Chair of the Committee; and Malik Muhammad Ahmad Khan, Speaker of the Punjab Assembly, detailing the government’s continued implementation measures. In response, Congressman Suozzi described the developments as “something to celebrate” and reaffirmed the caucus’s support for sustained U.S.–Pakistan engagement, including collaboration with the American business and nonprofit sectors to promote ethical supply chains, responsible investment, and long-term social impact. Congressman Suozzi emphasized that fighting for families trapped in bonded labor is not just policy priority, but a moral calling and legacy that he will carry with pride."
Collectively, these developments position Punjab’s reform pathway as an emerging benchmark for responsible governance, ethical industrial modernization, and durable public and private cooperation.
The joint statement reaffirmed continued support for high-level dialogue, principled international partnership, and cross-sector collaboration to permanently eradicate bonded labor while advancing inclusive, environmentally responsible, and rules-based economic growth in Pakistan.