KARACHI, Aug 24: City Naib Nazim Nasreen Jalil said that it was the responsibility of both government and the society to provide protection to street children. She was speaking as chief guest at a seminar on “Protection of Street Children” organised by the city government in coordination with Malir town administration and social work department of the University of Karachi.

Ms Jalil said that the society should come forward and cooperate with the government for all the children especially street children. She said that the number of street children was increasing and in Karachi alone their number had crossed the figure of 25,000 and this was high time to address this serious issue.

She appreciated the establishment of “drop-in centres” for street children by various NGOs with the assistance of the Unicef.

The city government, Ms Jalil said would work for the welfare of children and provide them technical training in liaison with the town administrations (TMA) and also establish centres for their rehabilitation.

“It is the mission of the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) to protect the rights of children”, she said and announced that the Haq Parast town municipal administrations (TMAs) would work for the welfare of children who were the victims of neglect.

Earlier, Malir Town Nazim Ansar Shaikh announced that Malir Town would work on welfare schemes for children.

The EDO Community Development, Reehana Saif, said that her department would establish shelter homes in Malir and Korangi in collaboration with the respective towns.

Jabeen Abbas of the Unicef said that the Karachi city government was cooperating with the Unicef in various projects for child development and welfare.

She said that the Unicef had established a drop-in center in Jamshed Town with the cooperation of Azad Foundation, where 600 street children were registered and were provided with necessary facilities and imparted non-formal education.

Prof Najma of KU’s social welfare department urged the media to create public awareness about the problems of street children.

The assistant director of the provincial commission for children, Shahnaz Afzal, disclosed that a child authority bill had been sent to the law department for vetting to fulfil the needs for child protection agency.—APP