Khyber Pakhtunkhwa to establish child protection institute

Child Protection and Welfare Commission, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa has decided the establishment of child protection institute for provision of better accommodation and education facilities to vulnerable children. The decision was taken at a meeting of the Commission held here with Provincial Minister for Social Welfare and Women Development Sitara Ayaz in the chair.
Those who attended the meeting included Director Social Welfare Imtiaz Ayub, Assistant Chief Child Protection Ejaz Mohammad Khan, and officers of child protection and commission. The meeting also reviewed progress on decisions made in last session of the Commission and took several important decisions for bringing further improvement in the performance of the Commission and its capacity.
The meeting also reviewed the establishment of child protection units in the remaining districts of the province to guarantee the protection of the rights of children and also decided the establishment of a children protection institute, which would provide better accommodation and education facilities to vulnerable children for their rehabilitation.
Speaking on the occasion, Sitara Ayaz said children were the guarantors of bright future and their exploitation would not be tolerated in any circumstances. She warned that elements forcing children on begging on busy squares, roads and labour would be dealt with iron hand.
She said that all those children who had been forced on begging on roads, streets and forced labour would be taken into the custody of the Child Protection and Welfare Commission and surety of their rights and protection would be taken from their parents and guardians through special court and in case of forcing them again on labour and begging, strict legal action would be initiated against their parents and guardians.
However, she said that destitute children would be kept in Child Protection Bureau and Child Protection Units where they would be better looked after. Sitara said that provincial government was utilising all available resources for the welfare and protection of children, while maximum increase had been made in the funds for the child protection in the budget. During next financial year, she said that four more child protection units would be established in four districts included provincial metropolis. She said that hefty amounts had been allocated in the budget for the provision of education and better accommodation facilities to orphans and destitute children.