Sarah Ahmad, Chairperson of the Child Protection and Welfare Bureau (CPWB) Punjab and Member of Provincial Assembly, reaffirmed Pakistan’s dedication to eradicating violence against children during the South Asia Ministerial Conference held in Colombo, Sri Lanka.
In her address, she underscored Pakistan’s ongoing commitment to safeguarding children and promoting their rights through enhanced legislation, institutional reforms, improved child protection services, and coordinated multi-sectoral efforts. She highlighted significant strides made by Pakistan, including the expansion of child protection frameworks, reinforcement of Child Protection Units, and improvements in reporting and referral mechanisms.
Furthermore, Ahmad pointed to initiatives promoting positive parenting, strengthened online safety for children, and the development of Pakistan’s inaugural National Strategic Action Plan on Violence Against Children. She stressed that with nearly 50% of Pakistan’s population being children, their protection is a national priority and a vital investment in the country’s future.
She reiterated Pakistan’s adherence to the Convention on the Rights of the Child, the Sustainable Development Goals, and commitments made at the Global Ministerial Conference on Ending Violence Against Children. Emphasizing regional collaboration, Ahmad called for enhanced knowledge-sharing among South Asian nations to tackle emerging challenges such as online exploitation, child marriage, abuse, and neglect.
Expressing gratitude to Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif for nominating her to represent Pakistan at this important forum, she stated, “It is an honour to represent Pakistan at this significant Ministerial Conference. Pakistan remains fully committed to ensuring that every child grows up safe, protected, respected, and able to realise their full potential.”
The conference was jointly organised by the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC), UNICEF, and the World Health Organization (WHO). It gathered ministers, secretaries, senior government officials, and development partners from across South Asia to enhance regional strategies for preventing and responding to violence against children.
The Pakistani delegation also included Ministry of Human Rights Secretary Abdul Khaliq Sheikh and Human Rights Director General Muhammad Arshad. Sri Lankan Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya attended as the chief guest, whose efforts in fostering regional cooperation for child welfare were highly praised by Ahmad.
The conference concluded with renewed commitments from participating countries to strengthen child protection systems and accelerate collective actions aimed at ending all forms of violence against children throughout South Asia.
