Body formed on children’s registration at birth time

LAHORE: A meeting, on Tuesday, decided to form a committee to prepare recommendations to ensure the registration of children at the time of birth. Punjab Chief Secretary Zahid Akhtar Zaman and Chairperson National Commission on Rights of Child (NCRC) Senator Ayesha Raza Farooq attended the meeting held at the Civil Secretariat.

The committee will comprise the secretary local government department, special secretary health department, chairman Punjab Information Technology Board (PITB), Director General National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA) and the Punjab member of National Commission on Rights of Child (NCRC). The meeting also decided to depute the secretary implementation and coordination as the focal person for enhancing coordination with the NCRC.

Speaking on the occasion, the chief secretary said that birth registration is very important for the protection of children’s rights, provision of better health and education facilities. He said that the process of registration of children at the time of birth would be made easy in Punjab, adding that the NCRC would be given full support to ensure the protection of children’s rights across the province. Senator Ayesha Raza Farooq said that birth registration is a fundamental right of every child.

She said that the rate of registration of children at birth in Pakistan is very low as compared to other countries. She mentioned that the National Commission on Rights of Child is working hand in hand with the

federal and provincial governments to underscore the importance of birth registration and to provide necessary facilities for it. The secretaries of local government and health departments, chairman PITB, representatives of Nadra and National Commission on Rights of Child attended the meeting.

Teachers warned: Commissioner/Chairman Lahore Board Muhammad Ali Randhawa has said action will be taken against the teachers who do not attend exam duty.

The chairman paid surprise visits to different examination centres during the Secondary School Certificate (Class 9th) Annual 2024 on Tuesday. The papers of the Arts Group were held in the morning and evening sessions. Randhawa visited the examination centres set up at Govt MAO College where examination staff of the college was checked and no private invigilator was present there. The commissioner checked the attendance of the posted staff as per the board lists and also reviewed the CCTV monitoring. Controller of Examinations M Zahid Mian was also present. He said it was the responsibility of the CEO DEA to meet the shortage of invigilators/staff.