The Parliamentary Caucus on Child Rights convened provincial and regional coordinators in Islamabad on 21 January 2026 to intensify federal–provincial cooperation on child rights and chart a coordinated agenda for prevention, protection and policy action. Convenor Dr. Nikhat Shakeel Khan, Parliamentary Secretary for Science & Technology, led the meeting and set out priorities for education, health and data-driven policymaking.
Dr. Nikhat Shakeel Khan urged the integration of Good Touch, Bad Touch education into provincial curricula, stronger population control awareness in partnership with the Ministry of Health, and targeted interventions to address stunted growth among children. She highlighted the urgent need for reliable health data from institutions such as the Health Services Academy and the National Institutes of Health to inform evidence-based child rights policies.
Ms. Asia Naz Tanoli, Coordinator for Islamabad, stressed immediate measures to protect students, calling for the installation of school safety cameras as a deterrent to harassment and to promote safer learning environments.
Dr. Shazia Sobia Aslam Soomro, Provincial Coordinator for Sindh, emphasised systematic data collection at federal and provincial levels for children who are victims of abuse. She noted that child protection units exist in every Karachi district and called for a national campaign to empower children to report abuse, addressing the fear and lack of confidence that often silence victims.
Regional Coordinator for AJK, Ms. Kiran Imran Dar, raised concerns about rising consumption of fizzy drinks among children and urged preventive measures to safeguard child health within local communities.
Parliamentary Secretary for Federal Education and Professional Training, Ms. Farah Akbar Naz, referenced outcomes of an inter‑provincial education ministers’ meeting and warned that the number of Out‑of‑School Children (OOSC) is likely far higher than the cited figure of 26 million, calling for urgent reassessment and remedial action.
Coordinator for Islamabad and Gilgit‑Baltistan, Syed Ali Qasim Gillani, flagged limited provincial progress on population control and urged better alignment with subject‑specific development partners. He informed participants that Mr. Sikandar Ch., ED PEMRA, will brief the caucus in an upcoming session and stressed that any crime affecting children should trigger an immediate, unified response from the caucus. He also advocated legislation to ensure summary trials for crimes against children, with decisions delivered within three months.
Punjab Provincial Coordinator Ms. Saba Sadiq raised alarm over children being used in drug smuggling and exploitation by begging and sexual abuse networks, linking such vulnerabilities to rapid population growth. She recommended engaging PEMRA to increase mainstream media coverage and feature child rights experts in prime‑time discussions.
Balochistan Provincial Coordinator Ms. Kiran Haider prioritised ending child beggary and committed to working with the Speaker of the Balochistan Assembly to formally notify a Child Rights Caucus in the province. Punjab Provincial Coordinator Mr. Daniyal Ch, Parliamentary Secretary for Information & Broadcasting, pledged to facilitate PEMRA’s briefing in a future National Assembly session.
Provincial Coordinator for Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Ms. Shaista Khan, highlighted inadequate nutritional standards in shelter homes and called for improved coordination among organisations working on child nutrition to ensure the wellbeing of vulnerable children.
The meeting concluded with a shared commitment to strengthen federal‑provincial coordination, improve data systems, pursue legislative reforms and keep child rights central to public and parliamentary discourse across Pakistan.
