KARACHI: Need for timely birth registration stressed
KARACHI, March 5: Speakers at a seminar on Monday called for timely birth registration in order to safeguard rights of children. The seminar on “Importance of Children’s Birth Registration” was organised by the Society for Protection of Rights of Children (Sparc) at Rafa-e-Aam Social Welfare Community Centre, Shah Faisal Town.
Malir Town Nazim Ansar Ahmed Sheikh said that birth registration was one of the important social rules as the actual figures of population could not be determined unless birth registration data was available. He pointed out that uplift funds were released on the basis of the population figures and the wrong figures recorded due to the non-registration of births were bound to result in less allocations.
The other areas where people could face problems are admission to school and acquiring NICs.
He said it was the responsibility of the union council concerned to have an accurate data of births.
Nazra Jahan, School Project Coordinator from Sparc welcomed the guests, and highlighted the importance of birth registration, terming it the fundamental right of a child, who must be recognised by the government and society as a genuine citizen of the country and entitled to all constitutional rights.
“It is unfortunate that a large number of children goes unregistered every year and remains helpless wherever the question of identity, recognition or origin arises.”
Kashif Bajeer, Protection Manager of Sparc recounted benefits of birth registration, saying it is a must for every individual seeking his right to education and access to civic facilities. He pointed out that birth certificate helps establish and prove the holder’s age, which mattered at various stages of life.
Shah Faisal Town Nazim Mohammed Imran said that 15,000 birth certificates were issued in the town over the past four years.
The others who spoke at the seminar included Naib Nazim of Malir Town Sharafat Ali, TMO Shah Faisal Town Barkaat Rizvi and nazims of various UCs.—PPI
