Staff Reporter
Society for the Protection of the Rights of the Child (SPARC) organized a two-day roundtable discussion with policy makers on child Rights at local hotel.
Dr. Nausheen Hamid, Parliamentary Secretary, Federal Ministry National Health Services Regulations and Coordination mentioned The Zainab Alert, Response and Recovery Bill, 2020, and Ehsaas Undergraduate Scholarship Program as some key steps taken by the government to safeguard the rights of Pakistani children. She also mentioned that the government is also keeping the damage caused by COVID-19 pandemic in consideration.
Ms. Mehnaz Akbar Aziz, Member, National Assembly, Pakistan stressed that policy makers will have to set aside their differences and work together to safeguard the future of Pakistan which is possible only through provision of child rights. She mentioned policy makers need to ensure that overall spending on child rights especially percentage of developmental budgets in education, child health and nutrition, and child protection are increased. She further added that the policy makers also need to ensure that the 76% of child related laws which are not in compliance of UNCRC are corrected and implemented properly.
Mr. Sajjad Ahmed Cheema, Executive Director, SPARC said that Pakistan has approximately 47% of Pakistan’s total population comprises of children under the age of 18. Unfortunately, Pakistan hasn’t delivered on its international and national commitments towards child rights however the current government is striving to change this situation.
