Pirzada urges handing over of children to CPI in presence of lady police

F.P. Report

ISLAMABAD: Federal Minister for Human Rights Mian Riaz Hussain Pirzada, being the patron, chaired the third meeting of Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT) Child Protection Advisory Board here in the Ministry of Human Rights, Islamabad on Friday. The objective of the meeting was to discuss the pending issues of the Child Protection Institute (CPI) and Zainab Alert Response and Recovery Agency (ZARRA).

The Advisory Board is mandated, under the Child Protection Act, 2018, to advise the government on matters relating to policy, legislation and implementation of the rights of children at ICT level.

In the meeting, Board unanimously approved to move for certain amendments in the relevant section/clause of the act to change the composition of the Advisory Board to make it more practical and viable.

The Director General CPI Ms Rabeea Hadi requested the representative of the Inspector General of Police in Islamabad for more coordination and support in tracing of Afghan Children, their reunification and particularly in the rehabilitation of drug addict children those are handed over to CPI by the police.

During the meeting, issues of relocation and construction of customized building of CPI, resource allocation, drafting of supplementary rules, institutionalization of Helpline 1099, Prime Minister Performance Delivery Unit and ZARRA and recruitment of staff for both CPI and ZARRA also came under the discussion.

Moreover, the board discussed the proposal to move for necessary legislation for the adoption of unclaimed children from the CPI. Riaz Hussain Pirzada urged the Islamabad Police to make sure the availability of lady police while handing over the custody of children to CPI for making this process more protected. The Minister also advised the concerned authorities of CPI and ZARRA to fully utilize the human, tangible and financial resources to make both CPI and ZARRA fully functional and effective for the better safety of children in ICT. (PPI)