awareness session and effective mobilisation, the parents agreed to send their children in NCPC for non formal education.
Speaking on this occasion, Joint Secretary Humaira Azam encouraged children to spread the message peace and tolerance in the society. She asked them to work hard and play their role in the development of the country. She appreciated the confidence level of the children and urged them to use it in positive manner.
Director NCPC Yousaf Shah introduced children with the International Peace Day. He said that the day is celebrated around the world on September 21 and it is dedicated to world peace and specifically the absence of war and violence. The day was first celebrated in 1982.
In a briefing to the ministry officials on NCPC’s achievements since January 2015, Director NCPC said that the centre has reunified 285 children with their families. In total, 3586 children have been reunified through the centre. Besides that, 191 children at risk received non-formal education, 60 children were enrolled in government schools after receiving non-formal education and 107 calls were received at the NCPC helpline (080011515) that started working from February 27, 2015. “Most of these calls were to inquire about missing children,” said the Director.
He said that the centre is in the process of making Standard Operating Procedures to deal with the children. He recommended construction of building for NCPC in Islamabad at an approachable place and legal support for the centre in the form of the approval of Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT) Child Protection and Welfare Bill. “This legislation will provide us legal ground and protection in attending any case of children at risk,” he said in his presentation before the Joint Secretary.
Yousaf Shah shared that the centre provides shelter to runaway, missing and street children and those who are involved in beggary. He said that they provide non-formal education, counselling, reunification and referral services, vocational skills and facilities like free pick and drop, lunch, uniform, books and teaching.