ISLAMABAD: Pakistan and the United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund (Unicef) on Wednesday signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) for collaboration to develop an adolescence equality index to assess various vulnerabilities and challenges confronted by children aged 10 to 19.

Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Youth Affairs Usman Dar and Unicef Representative in Pakistan Aida Girma signed the MoU.

Mr Dar said the index would help a great deal in assessing the situation on ground and also play a key role in shaping future policies aimed at well-being of children and youths. “The collaboration between Prime Minister’s Kamyab Jawan Programme and Unicef is significantly important for the development and welfare of young Pakistani population,” he added.

He said that that the cooperation with Unicef could also lead to formation of Prime Minister’s Kamyab Jawan Junior programme.

Ms Girma welcomed the mutual cooperation and pledged on behalf of Unicef to contribute towards the shared goal of working for the adolescent age group in Pakistan. She said Unicef would provide technical support in training the concerned officials for the formulation of the index.

She said that Unicef would also assist in reviewing the existing social sector policies in Pakistan, especially those related to women and children. The index will also help Pakistan in meeting the Sustainable Development Goals.

Published in Dawn, February 4th, 2021