Govt registering children at time of birth

In a move aimed at streamlining administrative processes and ensuring access to essential documentation, the government is contemplating registering children at the time of birth, eliminating the need for subsequent visits to union council offices for birth certificates. A committee has been formed to devise recommendations for facilitating the registration process immediately after birth. The committee includes the secretary of the local government department, the special secretary of the health department, the chairman of the Punjab Information Technology Board, the director general of the National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA), and the Punjab member of the National Commission on the Rights of the Child (NCRC). Punjab Chief Secretary Zahid Akhtar Zaman, along with Chairperson of the National Commission on the Rights of the Child (NCRC) Senator Ayesha Raza Farooq, presided over the meeting at the Civil Secretariat. It was decided in the meeting to appoint the Secretary of Implementation and Coordination as the focal person for better coordination with the NCRC. Addressing the attendees, Chief Secretary Zaman emphasised the significance of birth registration in safeguarding children's rights and ensuring access to quality health and education services. He assured that the registration process would be simplified in Punjab, with full support extended to the NCRC for safeguarding children's rights province-wide. Senator Ayesha Raza Farooq underscored birth registration as a fundamental right of every child, expressing concerns over Pakistan's low birth registration rates compared to other nations. She highlighted the collaborative efforts between the NCRC and both federal and provincial governments to raise awareness about birth registration and provide necessary infrastructure and services. Representatives from the local government and health departments, PITB, NADRA, and NCRC were present at the meeting. Published in The Express Tribune, April 3rd, 2024.

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