Staff Reporter
Lahore:Chairperson of the Child Protection and Welfare Bureau, Sarah Ahmed, visited the Central Police Office and met with IG Punjab, Dr. Usman Anwar. During the meeting, IG Punjab Dr. Usman Anwar and Chairperson Sarah Ahmed signed an MoU to enhance mutual cooperation. Under the MoU, timely information sharing in cases of child abuse, violence, and trafficking will be further enhanced. The teams of the Child Protection Bureau and Punjab Police will intensify joint crackdowns against the begging mafia. Focal persons will be appointed in all districts for prompt registration of FIRs in criminal cases involving children. Punjab Police will transfer abandoned newborns to the Child Protection Bureau. Spokesperson for Punjab Police further said that Punjab Police and the Child Protection Bureau will take joint measures to prevent the exploitation, violence, and abuse of children. Training sessions will be conducted to enhance the capacity of staff from both organizations. The Child Protection Bureau will enhance the bilateral working cooperation with Punjab Police’s Virtual Center for Child Safety.
IG Punjab Dr. Usman Anwar said that an automated system for immediate action is being developed to protect homeless and abandoned children. Social awareness and the use of advanced technology are being utilized to protect children’s rights and prevent crimes. Chairperson Sarah Ahmed commended Punjab police initiatives including the Police Protection Center and Tahafuz Manzil Foster Home, for child protection. The meeting was attended by DIG Welfare Ghazi Salahuddin, AIG Welfare Amara Shirazi, AIG Operations Zahid Nawaz Marwat, who briefed the meeting about Punjab Police measures for the protection of the children. Delegation of the Child Protection Bureau included Shafiq Ratyal, Muhammad Amin, Asadullah Khan (In-charge Rescue Operation), and Kashaf Noor (Child Psychologist).
