The Parliamentary Caucus on Child Rights convened a coordination meeting in Islamabad on 21 January 2026 to align federal and provincial efforts on child protection, data collection, education and health interventions. Convenor Dr. Nikhat Shakeel Khan underlined the need for stronger federal–provincial coordination to deliver measurable results on Child Rights across Pakistan.
Dr. Nikhat Shakeel Khan urged provinces to introduce Good Touch, Bad Touch education into curricula, to partner with the Ministry of Health on population control awareness campaigns, and to prioritise interventions against stunting. She stressed that reliable health data from the Health Services Academy and the National Institutes of Health is essential for evidence‑based policymaking on Child Rights.
Islamabad Coordinator Ms. Asia Naz Tanoli called for the installation of school safety cameras to deter harassment and create safer learning environments. Syed Ali Qasim Gillani highlighted weak progress on population control and urged alignment with development partners, while announcing that Mr. Sikandar Ch., ED PEMRA, will brief the Caucus in an upcoming session. He also pressed for a unified PCCR response to crimes against children and proposed legislation for summary trials to resolve such cases within three months.
Provincial voices stressed gaps in data and protection. Sindh Coordinator Dr. Shazia Sobia Aslam Soomro advocated for systematic federal and provincial data on child abuse, noting that Karachi already has child protection units in every district and recommending a nationwide campaign to empower children to report abuse. Punjab Coordinator Ms. Saba Sadiq warned about children being used in drug smuggling and exploited by sexual abuse and begging gangs, linking overpopulation to increased vulnerability and urging PEMRA engagement to raise public awareness.
Balochistan Coordinator Ms. Kiran Haider prioritised ending child beggary and committed to working with the Speaker of the Balochistan Assembly to notify a provincial Child Rights Caucus. Mr. Daniyal Ch, Parliamentary Secretary for Information & Broadcasting, pledged to facilitate PEMRA’s briefing in Parliament. AJK Regional Coordinator Ms. Kiran Imran Dar raised concerns about children’s consumption of fizzy drinks, while KP Coordinator Ms. Shaista Khan pointed to poor nutrition standards in shelter homes and called for improved coordination among organisations addressing child nutrition.
Parliamentary Secretary for Federal Education & Professional Training Ms. Farah Akbar Naz referenced an inter‑provincial education ministers’ meeting and warned that the actual number of Out‑of‑School Children is likely far higher than the cited 26 million, arguing for urgent reassessment and action to bring children back to school as part of the Child Rights agenda.
Participants left the meeting committed to strengthened coordination, improved data systems, targeted public awareness, and faster legal remedies to protect children. The Caucus resolved to sustain pressure across federal and provincial levels to translate these commitments into concrete measures that advance Child Rights for the most vulnerable children in Pakistan.
