A two-day consultation workshop on draft regulations for alternative care institutions for children commenced here on Tuesday, organized by the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Child Protection and Welfare Commission (KPCPWC) with the support of UNICEF Pakistan.
Two-day consultation on child care regulations begins
PESHAWAR, Apr 21 (APP):A two-day consultation workshop on draft regulations for alternative care institutions for children commenced here on Tuesday, organized by the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Child Protection and Welfare Commission (KPCPWC) with the support of UNICEF Pakistan.
The workshop brought together a wide range of stakeholders on the first day, including representatives from government and private care institutions, members of Wifaq ul Madaris, and participants from across the province.
The consultation aims to review and refine draft regulations to enhance standards of care and strengthen child protection mechanisms within institutional settings.
Secretary Social Welfare, Special Education, and Women Empowerment, Sharif Hussain, in his opening remarks, highlighted the challenges faced by vulnerable children and stressed the need for a coordinated and effective child protection system.
He noted that KPCPWC has made significant progress in case management, service delivery, and institutional mechanisms, supporting over 34,000 children at risk through initiatives such as District Child Protection Committees chaired by Deputy Commissioners.
He underscored that the proposed regulations would play a vital role in standardizing care and ensuring accountability in child care institutions.
He also acknowledged UNICEF’s continued technical and financial support in strengthening child protection systems in the province.
Chief UNICEF Peshawar, Radoslaw Rzehak, emphasized the importance of providing a safe and nurturing environment for children, terming child protection a shared responsibility of society and the government.
He reaffirmed UNICEF’s commitment to supporting the provincial government in this regard.
Bushra Ajam highlighted key challenges faced by vulnerable children and stressed the need for improved standards, capacity building, and continuous monitoring of care institutions.
Chief KPCPWC, Ijaz Muhammad Khan, briefed participants on the objectives and expected outcomes of the workshop, urging active engagement to ensure practical and impactful recommendations.
He also informed that efforts are underway to expand District Child Protection Units to additional districts, including Malakand, Shangla, Mansehra, Nowshera, and Dera Ismail Khan.
The workshop features presentations on draft regulations, thematic group discussions, and detailed deliberations.
Participants actively reviewed key provisions, shared insights, and proposed recommendations to strengthen the regulatory framework.
All the stakeholders assured to support the development and implementation of inclusive, child-centered regulations for care institutions across Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, aiming to ensure the well-being of vulnerable children.
