The provincial governments of Punjab, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, and Sindh are intensifying their efforts to combat child marriage and enhance protections for women and children, renewing a crucial reform agenda with support from the United Kingdom.
This renewed pledge, announced in a statement by the British High Commission, builds upon the successes of the UK-funded Aawaz II Programme. Provincial authorities are now set to scale up several effective models piloted under the initiative, including Anti-Rape Crisis Cells, District Child Protection Units, and Women Protection Centres, to broaden their reach and fortify protection systems.
A significant achievement of the Aawaz II Programme, which began in 2017, has been the introduction of a digital birth registration model. This innovation has already led to the registration of over 3.5 million children and has since been fully adopted and expanded by the provincial governments.
The programme’s impact also extends to the community level, where engagement across 42 districts has yielded effective strategies to tackle gender-based violence (GBV) and social exclusion. Furthermore, the initiative has successfully developed Early Warning Systems designed to preempt and prevent local conflicts.
At a National Learning Event on Wednesday, senior federal officials expressed their backing for the initiative. Federal Minister for Planning and Development Ahsan Iqbal, alongside Federal Minister for Law and Human Rights Azam Nazeer Tarar, commended the programme’s accomplishments and affirmed the federal government’s dedication to safeguarding vulnerable and marginalized populations.
British High Commissioner to Pakistan, Jane Marriott CMG OBE, highlighted the strength of the collaboration. ‘From supporting the Child Labour Survey in Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa to facilitating over three million birth registrations, the success of Aawaz II is a testament to what we can achieve together to serve communities,” she stated. “Let us continue to work together to build a safer, more inclusive, and prosperous Pakistan for all.’
The British High Commission in Islamabad reiterated its ongoing partnership with Pakistan to advance human rights, gender equality, and social protection reforms throughout the country.