Approval of child protection policy lauded

LAHORE: Civil society organisations and child rights advocates across Punjab have warmly welcomed the approval of the province’s first-ever Child Protection Policy by the Punjab Cabinet.

This landmark decision has been hailed as a crucial step toward protection and well-being of children in the province. Chairperson of CPWB Sarah Ahmad expressed thanks to Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz for her steadfast dedication and leadership in championing the cause of children. The approval of this policy by the Punjab Cabinet is not just a policy decision—it is a beacon of hope and a historic milestone for the protection and empowerment of our children, said Sarah Ahmad.

‘This policy embodies the Punjab government’s deep resolve to protect children’s rights and uphold their dignity, she said, adding it marks a transformative step toward ending violence, abuse, exploitation, and neglect against children in our communities.

This policy is the culmination of dedicated efforts that began over two years ago with the submission to the Home Department. Punjab proudly becomes the first province in Pakistan to institutionalise a formal Child Protection Policy, setting a precedent and inspiring other regions to follow suit in prioritising children’s rights and protection, she concluded.

Iftikhar Mubarik, Executive Director of Search for Justice, emphasised the importance of backing the policy with adequate budgetary allocations to ensure its implementation in true letter and spirit. He stressed the need for an action plan under the policy that defines clear roles and responsibilities for various administrative departments, including the School Education Dept, Special Education Dept, Prosecution Dept, Planning & Development Dept, Police, Health Dept, Social Welfare & Bait-ul-Maal Dept, PSPA, the legal community, civil society organisations, INGOs, and UN agencies. Coordinated interventions must be streamlined to achieve the goals, he added.