Chairperson of the Child Protection Bureau and Member of the Punjab Provincial Assembly, Sarah Ahmad, participated as the chief guest in the consultative workshop held to launch the Interfaith Child Protection Provincial Forum.
A consultative workshop for the Interfaith Child Protection Provincial Forum was organized by Islamic Relief Pakistan and UNICEF Pakistan.
The workshop was attended by religious leaders from various faiths, MPAs Mehwish Sultana, Safia Saeed, Rukhsana Kausar, and representatives of various organizations.
Among those present at the event were Asif Shirazi, Country Director of Islamic Relief Pakistan; Afshan Jamal, Head of Child Protection and Community Development; Azlan Butt, UNICEF Child Protection Officer; and others.
During the workshop, it was agreed to establish the Interfaith Child Protection Forum at the provincial level.
“All religious leaders have come together to protect the rights of children,” stated Chairperson Sarah Ahmad.
Under the Child Protection Bureau, and in collaboration with Islamic Relief Pakistan and UNICEF Pakistan, a Provincial Interfaith Child Protection Forum is being established, said Chairperson Sarah Ahmad.
The initiative to establish the Interfaith Child Protection Forum is commendable, she added.
Chairperson Sarah Ahmad also announced that the Provincial Interfaith Child Protection Forum will be made a part of the Child Rights Caucus formed by Speaker of the Punjab Assembly Malik Ahmad Khan.
The forum will ensure the protection and welfare of children, said Chairperson Sarah Ahmad.
The purpose of the forum is to bring together religious leaders from all faiths onto one platform for the protection and well-being of children in Punjab, she emphasized.
“Children of all religions are important to us,” she said, adding that the Child Protection Bureau provides services to children from all minority communities under its care.
Raising awareness against child exploitation is the need of the hour, she stated.
The Child Helpline 1121 is active and available to protect children of all faiths, said Chairperson Sarah Ahmad.