Karachi: The Sindh government has launched a toll-free helpline service ‘1121’ to provide emergency assistance to protect children in the province against any injustice or abuse.
This was disclosed by Sindh Law and Environment Adviser Murtaza Wahab as he inaugurated a shelter home for destitute children in Malir area of Karachi. The shelter home works under the aegis of Sindh Child Protection Authority and Sindh Government’s Social Welfare Department.
Wahab toured different wards of the shelter home, reviewed its facilities, and also interacted with the children there.
Sindh Law Adviser appealed to the people to use the toll-free helpline to report any incident of abuse or exploitation against the children.
He recalled that in 2013 Sindh had become the first province of Pakistan to establish a Child Protection Authority that has offices in every district.
Wahab said the Sindh government had started work to establish centres for assistance and rehabilitation of children being used for begging. The DNA tests of such children will be conducted to determine whether the women accompanying them on the streets were their mothers. Tests will also be conducted to protect them against any addiction that is injurious to their health.
The pilot programme to protect the children against begging is being launched shortly in District South of Karachi. Vocational training will also be provided to such children.
A major rehabilitation centre having the facility to accommodate 1,200 destitute children is being established in District Korangi of Karachi.
Sindh Law Adviser appealed to the people to come forward and lend a helping hand in the government’s drive to protect children from abuse and exploitation.
