Islamabad, January 21, 2026: The Parliamentary Caucus on Child Rights (PCCR), under the convenership of Dr. Nikhat Shakeel Khan, convened a key coordination meeting bringing together Provincial and Regional Coordinators from across the country to deliberate on pressing child rights challenges in Pakistan. The meeting focused on experience-sharing, policy alignment, and strengthening federal–provincial coordination to advance the national child rights agenda.
Dr. Nikhat Shakeel Khan, Convenor of the PCCR and Parliamentary Secretary for Science and Technology, underscored the need to introduce “Good Touch, Bad Touch” education in provincial curricula, strengthen population control awareness campaigns in collaboration with the Ministry of Health, and address the growing issue of stunted growth among children. She emphasized the importance of reliable data—particularly from institutions such as the Health Services Academy and the National Institutes of Health (NIH)—to support evidence-based policymaking.
Islamabad Coordinator Ms. Asia Naz Tanoli, MNA, stressed the urgent need to install safety cameras in schools as a preventive measure against harassment and to ensure safer learning environments for children.
Sindh Provincial Coordinator Dr. Shazia Sobia Aslam Soomro, MNA, highlighted the critical importance of systematic data collection on child abuse cases at both federal and provincial levels. She noted that child protection units are operational in every district of Karachi and called for a nationwide awareness campaign to empower children to report abuse, citing fear and lack of confidence as major barriers.
Regional Coordinator for Azad Jammu and Kashmir, Ms. Kiran Imran Dar, MNA, raised concerns over excessive consumption of fizzy drinks among children and emphasized the need for preventive measures to protect child health.
Parliamentary Secretary for Federal Education and Professional Training, Ms. , MNA, referred to outcomes of an inter-provincial education ministers’ coordination meeting, stating that the number of out-of-school children is likely far higher than the previously cited figure of 26 million, necessitating urgent reassessment and corrective action.
Coordinator for Islamabad and Gilgit-Baltistan, Syed Ali Qasim Gillani, MNA, noted limited provincial progress on population control and called for stronger alignment with subject-specific development partners. He informed participants that Mr. Sikandar Ch., Executive Director PEMRA, would brief the Caucus in an upcoming session. He also stressed that crimes related to child rights should trigger an immediate and unified response from the PCCR, advocating for legislation to ensure summary trials with decisions reached within three months.
Punjab Provincial Coordinator Ms. Saba Sadiq, MNA, highlighted the need to bridge gaps between federal and provincial governments, warning that child-related challenges are deeply interconnected. She raised serious concerns over children being used in drug smuggling, the link between overpopulation and child vulnerability, and the exploitation of children by begging and sexual abuse networks. She noted that such issues rarely receive prime-time media coverage and recommended engaging PEMRA to ensure child rights experts are included in mainstream discussions.
Balochistan Provincial Coordinator Ms. Kiran Haider, MNA, emphasized addressing child beggary as a priority and committed to engaging with the Speaker of the Balochistan Assembly to facilitate the formal notification of a Child Rights Caucus—the only province where such a caucus has yet to be established.
Punjab Provincial Coordinator and Parliamentary Secretary for Information and Broadcasting, Mr. Daniyal Chaudhry, assured participants of facilitating PEMRA’s briefing in an upcoming session of the National Assembly.
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Provincial Coordinator Ms. Shaista Khan, MNA, raised serious concerns over poor nutritional standards in shelter homes and called for improved coordination among organizations working on child nutrition.
The meeting concluded with a collective commitment to enhance coordination, strengthen legislative responses, and ensure sustained attention to child rights issues at federal, provincial, and public discourse levels.
