Key Points
- Pakistan’s President and Prime Minister urge collective societal efforts to protect children.
- Government commits to eliminating violence, child labour, and addressing out-of-school children.
- Punjab announces child welfare initiatives, including special schools, medical support, and school meal programmes.
- National Commission on the Rights of the Child emphasises child-centred policies.
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan marked World Children’s Day on Thursday, 20th November, with renewed pledges from top leadership to enhance child protection and expand access to education.
President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif called on parents, educators, media, civil society, and religious leaders to ensure safe and nurturing environments for children, Radio Pakistan reported.
In an international message, UN Secretary-General António Guterres urged all nations to prioritise child protection and ensure that every child has access to quality education and safe living conditions, according to the United Nations press release.
Moral and Legal Commitment
The messages from the President and Prime Minister emphasised that child rights are both a moral duty and a legal obligation. Prime Minister Sharif reiterated the government’s commitment to eliminating violence against children, expanding educational opportunities for talented students, and integrating out-of-school children into classrooms, according to the state media.
Targeted Welfare Programs
Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz announced a series of child welfare initiatives, including a virtual centre for child safety, a special school for autistic children, insulin kits for diabetic children, and school meal programmes across South Punjab, Dunya News reported. These steps aim to reach vulnerable and disabled children while modernising the response to exploitation and disappearance.
Education as a Core Priority
The government stressed the importance of education as a means of social protection. Scaling up school meal programmes is expected to improve attendance, nutrition, and learning outcomes, noted the United Nations in Pakistan. The Prime Minister described addressing out-of-school children as an “education emergency,” highlighting the urgency of ensuring equitable access to learning.
Institutional Strengthening
The National Commission on the Rights of the Child (NCRC) called for child-centred policies that go beyond legal protection, include health, education, and inclusion, according to the NCRC. Ministry of Foreign Affairs Pakistan highlighted the government’s commitment to tackling child labour, forced marriages, and discrimination.
Challenges and Risks
Successfully implementing these initiatives at the local level depends on a strong institutional capacity, an appropriate allocation of resources, and effective monitoring. The government needs to tackle the large number of out-of-school children through targeted strategies for marginalised communities. Expanding welfare programmes, including school meals and support for children with disabilities, requires ongoing funding and collaboration between federal and provincial authorities. Ensuring that child protection mechanisms, such as the virtual safety centre, remain responsive and transparent will necessitate oversight and regular data collection.
Agenda Ahead
Pakistan’s World Children’s Day pledges outline a comprehensive agenda to eliminate child exploitation, expand education, and improve welfare services. The commitment from the top leadership is significant, but translating these promises into tangible benefits for vulnerable children will be the true measure of success.
