LAHORE: In the wake of a shocking incident in the provincial metropolis where a mother allegedly killed her three minor children, the Child Protection and Welfare Bureau (CPWB) has constituted a committee to conduct comprehensive research on filicide, with a report expected within a month.

The announcement was made by CPWB Chairperson and ruling party lawmaker Sarah Ahmad, who informed the Punjab Assembly that the bureau had already initiated research into cases where parents, particularly mothers, harm or kill their children.

She said the move follows a proposal raised on the floor of the House after the recent tragic incident in Ichhra.

The issue was highlighted by opposition member Rana Aftab Ahmad Khan, who drew attention to the case, prompting a policy response from the government.

Sarah Ahmad told the House that she had been advised to undertake structured research into such cases, adding that findings would soon be shared with lawmakers.

She told Dawn that a notification had been issued forming a committee tasked with carrying out an in-depth study into the underlying causes, risk factors, and preventive mechanisms related to incidents of filicide across Punjab.

The development marks the first formal, institutional effort by the provincial government to systematically examine this sensitive and complex issue.

The committee includes a diverse group of experts from public health, law, psychology, and child rights advocacy to analyse both recent and past cases of filicide, identify patterns, and examine contributing factors, including social pressures, economic hardship, domestic violence, and psychological conditions.

She said it would also review existing child protection laws, policies, and response mechanisms to identify gaps in prevention and early intervention systems.

The committee has further been directed to propose practical recommendations, including policy reforms, improved institutional coordination, and community-based interventions aimed at preventing such incidents.

Officials said the panel may also consult external experts and stakeholders to enrich its findings.

Ms Sarah said the bureau had already intervened in cases where biological parents attempted to harm their children. She said that in situations where mothers tried to kill their children in hospitals, the affected minors were taken into protective custody and provided shelter by the bureau.

Published in Dawn, May 6th, 2026