In a country where child vulnerability often remains hidden in plain sight, Punjab’s Child Protection and Welfare Bureau (CPWB) stands as a rare and vital institution. It is the only government department in Pakistan dedicated exclusively to rescuing, rehabilitating, educating and empowering destitute and neglected children.
The Bureau functions as an autonomous body operating under the administrative control of Home Department.
It is headed by Ms Sarah Ahmad, who assumed role of Chairperson in 2019. It not only provide immediate protection, but also ensure every
child who passes through its care emerges as a confident and self-reliant adult.
Over the past six years, the Bureau has undergone institutional revival, emerging as one Punjab’s most active and responsive social protection departments.
Partnerships with philanthropists and various non-government organisations have played a key role in this progress, leading to establishment of seven new child protection centres across the province.
At present, the Child Protection and Welfare Bureau is operational in 17 districts of Punjab.
The scale of the Bureau’s work is reflected in its rescue operations. Last year, 10,820 children were rescued from across Punjab.
A majority of these children were reunited with their families. Among them were children forced into street begging, those who had gone missing and were later traced, children engaged in garbage picking, runaway children and those who had fled broken or abusive homes. Currently, 1,197 children reside in Bureau facilities, where they are provided a safe and nurturing environment.
The Lahore Child Protection Bureau stands as a benchmark institution not only for Pakistan, but for wider South Asian region.
The facility includes well-equipped schools, residential hostels, medical units and recreational spaces.
Alongside its academic offerings, the Bureau operates a dedicated Skill Development Unit
where children receive vocational training in cooking, tailoring and plumbing.
The Lahore model also features a dedicated playing ground and a multi-sports complex, developed through philanthropic donations. These facilities allow children to engage in sports and physical activities, contributing to their overall growth, confidence and social development.
A defining feature of the Bureau’s model is presence of a child protection court within its premises.
A sessions judge sits on-site, allowing legal matters related to child custody and protection to be addressed without delay.
The Bureau’s success is evident in the lives it has transformed. Children who once lived on the streets or survived extreme neglect are today contributing members of society.
Many have secured employment in multinational organisations, some have joined Pakistan Army, others have become nurses, and several have launched small businesses, including bakeries and home-based enterprises.
One example is that of Rizwana, a survivor of a high-profile torture case who was once critically injured.
Today, she is healthy, enrolled in the Bureau’s school and actively learning culinary skills.
The CPWB’s work extends far beyond its residential facilities.
Through its Child Protection Units, the Bureau conducts extensive awareness and advocacy campaigns at the community level.
Parents, teachers and children are educated on child rights, positive parenting practices and protection from abuse.
The Bureau recently notified Interfaith Child Protection Committee, bringing together religious leaders from different faiths to promote child protection as a shared moral and social responsibility.
Awareness sessions have also been held during religious gatherings, including a Sunday service at a church.
Recently, Government of Punjab approved Pakistan’s first-ever Child Protection Policy, making Punjab first province to adopt a comprehensive, institutionalised approach to child protection.
The Bureau also operates a specialised nursery for abandoned newborns rescued from unsafe locations such as garbage dumps.
The Bureau operates a 24-hour helpline, 1121, which serves as a lifeline for vulnerable children. Reports of abuse, child marriage, missing children or neglect trigger swift response teams that reach the location within minutes, ensuring timely protection and legal action where required.
In Punjab, child protection is no longer a distant promise or a reactive measure.
The CPWB has established itself as a cornerstone of social protection, offering thousands of children not just safety, but dignity, opportunity and a genuine second chance at life. —The writer is a certified NLP coach and experienced child rights’ activist.
