The government is considering a new initiative to streamline administrative procedures and ensure easy access to vital documents by registering children at birth, eliminating the need for subsequent visits to union council offices for birth certificates.
To develop recommendations for this process, a committee has been established. Its members include the secretary of the local government department, the special secretary of the health department, the chairman of the Punjab Information Technology Board (PITB), the director general of the National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA), and the Punjab representative of the National Commission on the Rights of the Child (NCRC).
A meeting was held at the Civil Secretariat, chaired by Punjab Chief Secretary Zahid Akhtar Zaman and attended by NCRC Chairperson Senator Ayesha Raza Farooq. During the meeting, it was decided to appoint the Secretary of Implementation and Coordination as the focal person to enhance coordination with the NCRC.
Chief Secretary Zaman stressed the importance of birth registration in protecting children’s rights and ensuring access to quality healthcare and education services. He pledged full support to simplify the registration process in Punjab, collaborating closely with the NCRC to safeguard children’s rights across the province.
Senator Ayesha Raza Farooq emphasized birth registration as a fundamental right of every child, expressing concerns about Pakistan’s low birth registration rates compared to other countries. She highlighted the joint efforts between the NCRC and federal and provincial governments to promote awareness about birth registration and provide the necessary infrastructure and services.
Representatives from the local government and health departments, PITB, NADRA, and NCRC were all present at the meeting to discuss and plan this important initiative.
