The Punjab government on 2nd April 2024 formed a committee to prepare recommendations to ensure the registration of children at the time of birth.
The committee will comprise the local government department secretary, special secretary (health), while other members include Punjab Information Technology Board (PITB) chairman, National Database and Registration Authority (Nadra) director general and Punjab of National Commission on Rights of Child (NCRC) chairperson.
Punjab Chief Secretary Zahid Akhtar Zaman and NCRC Chairperson Senator Ayesha Raza Farooq attended the meeting held at the Civil Secretariat.
The meeting also decided to depute the Implementation and Coordination secretary as the focal person for enhancing coordination with the NCRC.
The chief secretary said birth registration is very important for the protection of children`s rights, provision of better health and education facilities.
He said the process of registration of children at the time of birth would be made easy in Punjab, adding that the NCRC would be given full support to ensure the protection of children`s rights across the province.
Ms Farooq said birth registration is a fundamental right of every child and disclosed that the rate of registration of children at birth in Pakistan is very low as compared to other countries.
She mentioned that the NCRC is working hand in hand with the federal and provincial governments to underscore the importance of birth registration and to provide necessary facilities for it.-Staff Reporter
