U.S. Helps to Fight Child Labor in Pakistan

   ISLAMABAD - In an attempt to get thousands of Pakistani children away
from weaving carpets and into school, the U.N. labor agency yesterday
announced a largely U.S.-financed program to fight child labor.

   The program will set up 300 schools in eastern Punjab province where
most of the carpet weaving industry is located, said Antero Vahapassi, an
official of the International Labor Organization in Islamabad.

   The U.S. government will contribute $2 million to the $2.9 million
program; the Pakistani carpet industry making up the rest.

   Children are preferred weavers because their small fingers can tie the
fine knots that characterize quality carpets.