Punjab’s Mera Pyara project named Global Champion at WSIS Awards 2026

LAHORE: Punjab’s Mera Pyara initiative has been declared a Global Champion at the United Nations-backed World Summit on the Information Society Awards 2026, while another provincial digital service, the Virtual Women Police Station, was also placed among the competition’s top-ranked projects.

Two projects launched in Punjab were included in the upper tier of the WSIS rankings. The Virtual Centre for Child Safety’s Mera Pyara project was listed among the world’s top five initiatives, while the Virtual Women Police Station was shortlisted among the top 20 projects globally. Pakistan was the only country to have two projects shortlisted in the WSIS.

Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif congratulated the Mera Pyara team and said the recognition reflected progress in digital governance and the delivery of public services in the province. She also said the Virtual Centre for Child Safety had extended support in matters involving child abuse, online harassment and the protection of vulnerable children.

Case figures cited in WSIS report

According to the WSIS report, the Virtual Centre for Child Safety handled more than 145,772 cases across different categories, of which 136,157 were resolved successfully. 26,274 first information reports were registered and 7,081 challans were submitted before courts.

The WSIS report further stated that out of 54,741 reported cases involving missing or abducted children, 53,811 children were traced and reunited with their families. More than 77,000 missing children had been recovered, including about 3,000 special children.

Rescue teams recovered 22,989 children, and 21,178 of them were immediately reunited with their families.