KASUR: The Child Protection and Welfare Bureau (CPWB) will spread its network throughout the province.

This was stated by CPWB Chairperson Sarah Ahmed at the ground-breaking ceremony of the Child Protection Unit at Kasur on Thursday.

The project was announced by Chief Minister Usman Buzdar in 2019 when police found the remains of four children from sand dunes at Chunian about 50 kilometres away from here.

The children were killed after being abused, bringing Kasur once again in the spotlight after Hussain Khanwala pornography scandal and murder of seven girls including little Zainab in Kasur.

The project will cost Rs34 million and complete in two years. She also said the unit would initially accommodate 30 children and serve as a referral unit.

Addressing a gathering of children, parents, civil society and NGOs’ representatives, Ms Ahmed said that since 2019, the CPWB had established a small office at Kasur and intervened in 36 cases of child abuse and referred 27 cases of abandoned children who were then shifted to Lahore Bureau for their welfare.

Highlighting the importance of the CPU at Kasur, she said the district was a hub of child abuse and pornography and it was very essential to establish a centre there for the protection of child rights. She said such units were being established in 13 districts of the province including Kasur.

She thanked the chief minister, the chief secretary and other officers for their cooperation in materialising the project.

Child rights activist Nadia Jamil, Advocate Hassaan Niazi and Deputy Commissioner Fayyaz Mohal were also present.

Published in Dawn, November 5th, 2021