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First Lady stresses collective responsibility to protect children from violence, abuse

ISLAMABAD: First Lady Bibi Asifa Bhutto Zardari on Friday said every child had an absolute right to grow up safe at home, school, in the community and increasingly, in the digital world.

In a statement on child protection, she said violence, abuse, exploitation or neglect of a child could never be dismissed as a private matter, social custom or an unfortunate circumstance.

“When a child is harmed, society has failed in its most basic duty of care,” she said.

Asifa said children across the world continued to face physical and sexual violence, trafficking, forced labour, child marriage, exploitation and abuse online.

She said the United Nations had repeatedly warned that violence against children remained widespread yet preventable, adding that protecting children required political will, strong institutions and sustained action.

“In Pakistan, this responsibility is especially urgent,” she said, adding that recent evidence concerning online exploitation of children reminded that threats to childhood were evolving rapidly.

She said technology must expand children’s opportunities, education and knowledge and must never become a doorway through which predators entered their lives.

The first lady said child protection could not begin only after a tragedy had occurred and must begin with prevention, including informed parents, safe schools, trained teachers, responsive police and social services, stronger protection mechanisms, responsible digital platforms and communities willing to speak when they saw a child at risk.

She said where a crime against a child had occurred, there must be no silence, stigma or protection for the perpetrator.

“A frightened child must be heard. A harmed child must be protected. A survivor must be treated with dignity. And an offender must face the law,” she said.

Asifa said children should never have to prove that they deserved protection, as their age and vulnerability imposed that responsibility upon all.

She said Pakistan must continue strengthening a child-protection system in which prevention, reporting, investigation, rehabilitation and justice worked together, where children and families knew where to seek help and where institutions responded swiftly, sensitively and without subjecting survivors to further trauma.

She also stressed the need to listen to children themselves, saying their fears, experiences and voices must inform the policies that affected their lives.

“Protecting childhood is not an act of charity. It is a matter of rights, justice and the kind of nation we choose to become,” she said.

The first lady called upon government institutions, provincial authorities, law-enforcement agencies, schools, civil society, religious and community leaders, the media, technology companies and families to make the protection of children a shared national responsibility.

“There can be no stronger investment in Pakistan’s future than protecting the child who will inherit it,” she said.

She said children deserved more than sympathy after they were harmed, adding that they deserved vigilance before harm reached them, protection when they were threatened and justice when their rights were violated.

“That must be our promise to every child of Pakistan,” she concluded.

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Health minister orders probe into Sindh MDCAT complaints

ISLAMABAD:Federal Minister for Health Syed Mustafa Kamal has taken notice of alleged irregularities in the Medical and Dental College Admission Test (MDCAT) held in Sindh and ordered a comprehensive inquiry into the complaints.

According to official sources, the minister directed a five-member committee, including the President of the Pakistan Medical and Dental Council (PMDC), to conduct a transparent investigation and submit its report within 15 days.

The committee has been tasked with examining the complaints and reviewing the circumstances surrounding the alleged irregularities during the examination, sources said.

The minister directed the committee to complete the inquiry within the stipulated timeframe and present its findings for further action in accordance with the applicable rules.

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CDA chairman directs faster work on Expressway East project

ISLAMABAD: Capital Development Authority (CDA) Chairman Sohail Ashraf has directed officials to accelerate work on the Islamabad Expressway Service Road East project while ensuring strict compliance with approved designs and construction standards.

During an inspection of the project on Saturday, the chairman reviewed progress and was briefed on ongoing works and the next phase of development.

He directed the project director and relevant departments to maintain continuous field monitoring and quality control and ensure effective traffic management to minimise inconvenience to commuters.

The chairman described the Expressway East project as an important infrastructure scheme for improving connectivity, traffic flow and road capacity in the capital. He also stressed that construction quality should not be compromised in efforts to meet the project timeline.

During the visit, he was also briefed on an ongoing enforcement operation against unauthorised and illegal construction along the Islamabad Expressway.

According to the CDA, 377 buildings have been identified for action, including 281 commercial structures. So far, 58 buildings have been sealed, while 124 buildings between Sohan and Khanna bridges have been marked for demolition.

The authority said Rs234.685 million had been recovered through land-use conversion, unauthorised construction and de-sealing charges. Around Rs3 billion remained recoverable under applicable regulations in connection with land-use conversion and violations relating to unauthorised construction, setbacks, floor area ratio and covered area.

The chairman directed the relevant departments to ensure strict enforcement of building-control and land-use regulations, particularly mandatory fire-safety requirements.

The enforcement operation is being conducted by the CDA’s Building Control Section and Enforcement Directorate in coordination with the district administration and Islamabad police.

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GB ministers call on Governor Kundi

PESHAWAR: Governor Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Faisal Karim Kundi on Saturday held a meeting with a delegation of Gilgit-Baltistan ministers at the Governor’s House here and discussed the country’s political situation and other matters of mutual interest.

The delegation comprised Gilgit-Baltistan Minister for Local Government and Rural Development Zulfiqar Ali Murad, Minister for Health Iqbal Hassan and Minister for Education Aman Ali Ameer.

During the meeting, the two sides exchanged views on the prevailing political situation in the country and various issues of mutual interest. They also discussed the recent elections in Gilgit-Baltistan and the Pakistan Peoples Party’s success in the polls.

The visiting ministers were taken on a tour of the Governor’s House. Governor Kundi presented them with traditional shawls and caps.